The number of people killed while cycling on the roads of the Republic in 2022 remained around record lows, though that will be little comfort for the families and loved ones of the seven victims who lost their lives.
While cycling deaths have been lower in relatively recent years - with five deaths in both 2010 and 2013 - the number of cycling fatalities remains very low in an historic context. As recently as 1990, for example some 46 people were killed while cycling in the Republic.
New Cycling Ireland president, Tom Daly, said at the national governing body's annual general meeting in Monaghan Town last month that the federation needed to become more outspoken about road safety.
"It’s the single biggest concern for our members and it’s the single biggest thing deterring young and old from getting out on their bikes," he told those gathered. "And I think it’s time to get off the fence on this one. Most of all, we need to re-establish the trust of our members.”
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Stickybottle agrees with Daly and in the year ahead we plan to publish more content on road safety. Some of those stories will not feature a cycling component but if matters arise that reflect the safety environment on the roads, we will cover it. That extra coverage will not be at the expense of any of our stories about Irish and international cycling.
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Overall on the roads in the Republic, the number of deaths in 2022 has been higher than 2021, when 136 people died, which was a record low. In 2022 some 155 people lost their lives on the roads, 19 higher than last year.
Of those deaths in 2022, some 60 were drivers of vehicles, 41 were pedestrians, 23 were motorcyclists, 22 were vehicle passengers, seven were cyclists and one was a pillion passenger on a motorbike.
While the number of cycling fatalities was low this year in an historical context, those figures obviously do not capture the number of non-fatal crashes cyclists were involved in, some of which resulted in life-changing injuries.
And the significantly lower number of fatalities now compared to the 1990s is likely partly driven by better medical treatment for seriously injured cyclists rather than being a reflection of much safer conditions for cyclists.
The number of drivers parking on cycle lanes around the country remains a serious and dangerous problem and motorists close passing cyclists is also a very frequent danger while drivers using mobile phones and being intoxicated behind the wheel are also significant safety concerns.
