Why Garda hi-vis and helmets plan for cyclists is truly worrying
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A Garda plan to make helmets and hi-vis clothing compulsory for cyclists under the law misses the point.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has in recent days called for helmets and hi-visibility clothing to be made compulsory for cyclists.
The association has effectively adopted the call as their official policy towards cycle safety.
That, of course, doesn’t mean the law will change. It just means the mid ranking officers have made their views known and have now decided to lobby Government to introduce legislation on the matter.
If its proposal came to pass, cyclists not wearing helmets and/or high-vis clothing would most likely be fined.
Like other road traffic offences, the matter could escalate to a court case and conviction.
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At stickybottle we’re in favour of measures that make conditions safer for cyclists. But we’re not in favour of victim blaming or ill-conceived proposals, especially coming from the Garda.
Here’s 7 reasons we think the Agsi idea is a very bad, and even worrying, one.
1 It reflects a worrying mindset
The Garda association’s default position appears to be that cyclists are the ones who need to change their behaviour to make themselves safer.
Everyone, cyclists included, needs to do everything in their power to ensure they are safe as possible on the roads.
But the fact the Garda’s entire debate was on what cyclists need to do, without even a token mention of drivers needing to change their behaviour, reflects a worrying mindset.
One of the Garda union's officers – who works in the traffic division – said reflective clothing and helmets were needed because trucks regularly cut corners in Dublin city centre.
Yet there was no call on the truckers to simply stop doing that and to be considerate of other, more vulnerable, road users.
2 It passes the buck
Many motorists – we would say most of them – are considerate. They will give cyclists a bit of space and generally have consideration.
However, there is still a sizeable number of drivers who see cyclists as lesser road users and a nuisance. This proposal from Agsi breathes life in that approach.
Coming from the Garda, the proposal creates a scenario in which one group of road users must not only obey the rules of the road. Cyclists must go beyond the rules with extra precautions in order to be seen as responsible.
Where is the Agsi call for motorists to, for example, keep out of cycle lanes or boxes reserved for cyclists at traffic lights?
3 It adds to Garda’s already mixed message
In the past the Garda has been criticised for including the wearing of cycle helmets in its public awareness campaigns.
When fixed charge notices/on the spot fines were introduced for cyclists in recent years the Garda issued literature and ran a social media campaign to raise awareness.
Helmets featured in that campaign. Cyclists were told to wear a helmet in literature about new laws that did not even cover helmets.
This call by Agsi, though probably well intentioned, simply adds to the force’s already mixed message.
They have placed helmets and hi-vis clothing at the centre of a debate on cycle safety when they could have urged road uses to obey a large number of existing laws already being breached.
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4 Helmets idea already rejected by Government
Helmets are encouraged by Government by present. But it has made it clear it is not in favour of making them compulsory.
When the bike share scheme was being rolled out in cities outside Dublin in recent years, the Government was clear that it was against making helmets compulsory.
The then minister for transport Pascal Donohoe said making helmets compulsory would undermine the cycling boom.
He said the move would have an “instant and very negative effect” on the bike share schemes in Irish cities.
5 Infrastructure is the way forward
Copenhagen full of bicycle riders with hi-vis and helmets..
Oh wait!pic.twitter.com/XdSaB5jRON— Stayin' Alive at 1.5 (@SafeCyclingEire) April 13, 2017
The way to make roads safer is to have more cyclists and fewer vehicles; especially in cities and large towns.
When we look to cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam we see excellence in cycling. And that has been brought about by the creation of infrastructure that facilitates and even prioritises cycling.
What we don’t see in these places are cyclists wearing helmets or high-viz clothing, as per the video above.
It’s precisely a shift away from Agsi’s thinking that is required, not enshrining it in law.
The association’s argument is the wrong one and it distracts from the real issue; lacking of public spending on cycling infrastructure.
6 Lack of research
The Garda members proposing compulsory helmets and hi-vis appear to have offered no research in making their argument.
One cycling fatality is one too many. However, there are not so many cyclists being killed on Irish roads that would prohibit up to date information being constantly compiled and published to show the cause/circumstance of the deaths.
There is no doubt some cyclists die from head injuries that would likely have been prevented by a helmet. And some cyclists not lit up after dark have had very bad crashes.
However, most of the cycling fatalities we have covered take place in daylight hours. And many seem to have resulted from close passing and crush injuries.
Cllr Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party has said the Garda would need to produce evidence that hi-vis clothing and helmets would have the positive impact on cycling collisions it was claiming.
He did not believe the measure would make much difference in improving safety.
“Most cycling accidents in Ireland occur with HGVs turning left. I have not yet seen a helmet that will protect a cyclist from a truck running over your head.”
7 Garda is worrying people about cycling
The idea that cyclists need to wear helmets and hi-vis before taking to the roads assumes cycling is much more dangerous than it actually is.
The Garda union would be much better served by pressing for the speedy introduction of the legislation promised on close passing and seeking training to enforce it.
We would also like to see the Garda embark on close pass undercover operations. This would involve gardai dressing as cyclists to catch motorists not giving them enough space.
The Garda would be seen as progressive and truly willing to play their part in the culture shift towards fostering respect for cycling and cyclists so badly needed in Ireland.
The Garda would gain respect from cyclists and lots of positive media coverage – as has been the case in the UK.
And the close pass undercover operations would also educate drivers of the dangers of passing cyclists too close; education that a large number of drivers in Ireland clearly need.
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