Gardai want helmets and hi-vis clothing made compulsory for cyclists
As cycling fatalities rise, gardai believe cyclists need to protect themselves.
By Brian Canty
A Garda union representing sergeants and inspectors wants helmets and hi-visibility clothing to be made compulsory for all cyclists.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has adopted the call as its official policy.
And it will now campaign in the hope of having the measure introduced under new laws for the Republic of Ireland.
The mid ranking officers believe cyclists should be taking more precautions against the dangers they encounter on the road.
“I mean we’ve all walked around the city centre, cycled around the city centre, drove around; you see people stepping out, trucks taking corners short,” said Sgt Claire Healy of Dublin’s traffic unit at her association’s annual conference.
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“So you need to protect yourself. And fluorescent jackets and helmets are absolutely the way to go in my personal opinion.
“The amount of fatalities and serious injuries – even minor injuries in cyclists, especially in (Dublin) is huge.
“So we’d just like shift the mentality and attitudes of cyclists to encompass their own safety and take that on board.”
The association considering lobbying the Government so all pedestrians would be obliged to wear high-visibility clothing.
However, that idea was abandoned because the sergeants and inspectors believe enforcing such laws would not be possible.
The adoption of the policy relation to cyclists is aimed at saving more lives, the association said.
The policy was discussed at its annual conference this week and a vote suggesting cyclists be required to wear the high-visibility clothing and helmets was passed.
However, the ideas have been raised in the past and the Government has decided against implementing them.
While many would favour making it compulsory for cyclists to wear helmets, those against the proposal have consistently argued cycling would decline.
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