Gardai inaction on dangerous drivers cited in cyclist road deaths
The Garda has been urged to take more action against dangerous drivers as the cyclist death toll this year is way ahead of 2016.
A lack of Garda enforcement of road traffic rules is adding to the danger on the roads and contributing to cyclist road deaths, a cycling advocacy group has claimed.
Cyclist.ie, the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network said while cyclist fatalities can be caused by a variety of issues, enforcement is key to making the roads safe.
It believes more needs to be done, pointing out five cyclists were killed in the first three months of the year compared to 10 in all of last year.
“These deaths have not been caused by accident; they have been caused by avoidable collisions,” said the chairman of Cyclist.ie Colm Ryder.
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“Collisions arise because of error, incapacity, or inattention on the part of drivers or cyclists.
“Inadequate design or maintenance of roads or vehicles (are) contributory factors.”
Adding to the danger on the roads that was resulting in cyclist deaths were a lack of awareness of and respect for the vulnerability of cyclists.
“And lack of Garda enforcement in combating dangerous driving such as speeding and dangerous overtaking,” he said.
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His group was calling for immediate action “to reduce or eliminate the risk of impact of vehicles with cyclists on our roads”.
Proposed new safe-passing laws, that would oblige drivers to give cyclists at least 1 metre space when passing, should be introduced immediately.
And repeating the key demand of the Dublin Cycling Campaign, he said the two per cent of current State transport expenditure going to cycling needed to be increased to 20 per cent.
“We call on the Minister for Justice and the Garda to improve and increase enforcement of road traffic laws, especially in relation to markedly improving the safety of cyclists.
“We call on the RSA to increase its efforts to improve road safety and particularly to bring about improvements in the training and education of drivers to be more aware of, and to give proper space and respect to cyclists and pedestrians on our roads.”
Cyclist death toll mounting in 2017
Last Monday, March 27th, a woman in her 30s became the fifth cyclist killed on the roads this year. She was hit by a truck at the junction of Templeville Road-Whitehall Road, Dublin 6W.
The previous day, Sunday, March 26th, a man in his 50s was killed when in collission with a campervan while cycling in Bunratty, Co Clare.
On Friday, March 24th, a cyclist in his 40s was killed when he was in collision with a car on Patrick’s Street, Dublin 8, just before 1am.
On Sunday March 12th, another cyclist in his 40s was killed. He was in collision with a car on Conyngham Road near Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
Last month Tonya McEvoy was killed in Co Kildare when in collision with a car while she was out training.
She was with a training group from Orwell Wheelers at the time, Sunday, February 12th.
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