The Garda and Road Safety Authority have urged cyclists to start wearing reflective clothing now that the clocks are about to go back.
“Cyclists and
pedestrians can increase their visibility on the roads by wearing reflective
clothing,” said Sam Waide, chief executive of the Road Safety Authority.
“In dark
clothing, a pedestrian or cyclist is only likely to be visible 30 metres away,
in low beam headlights. By wearing something reflective they become visible at
150 metres away, the length of a football pitch.
"With clocks
going back this weekend, motorists also need to be mindful that the visibility
of vulnerable road users on our roads will be reduced. Motorists need to take
care and remember that they are sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists and
motorcyclists who can be difficult to see in poor lighting or in darkness.”
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Waide was speaking as part of the Garda’s and RSA’s new
safer roads campaign for the winter months. The main focus of that campaign is
on urging drivers to change their behaviour and slow down.
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The campaign – being launched ahead of ‘National Slow Down Day’ for 24 hours from 7am tomorrow – has also urged drivers to be mindful of vulnerable road users, including cyclists.
Some 64 people
have been killed or seriously injured in October Bank Holiday collisions between
2016 and 2020. A total of 113 people have been killed on the Republic’s roads
so far this year as a result of 102 fatal collisions.
“We are asking
all drivers to support our National ‘Slow Down’ Day not just on ‘Slow Down Day’
but every day,” said Supt Thomas Murphy of the Garda’s National Roads Policing
Bureau.
“If we all slow
down a little, we can make a big difference. A 1 per cent reduction in average
speed will bring about a 4 per cent reduction in fatal collisions, and
therefore reducing motorists’ speed is essential to improving road safety.”
The overall
objective of the Garda and RSA campaign is to reduce the number of speed
related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on our roads. International
research has estimated that 30 per cent of fatal collisions are the result of
speeding or inappropriate speed by drivers.
While An Garda
Síochána will be focusing its enforcement activity this weekend and in the
months to come across all speed limit zones, there will be a focus on rural
roads. This is because almost four out of five fatalities to date this year
have occurred on rural roads with a speed limit of 80km per hour or above.
