The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has issued a very strange safety message as the increase in road deaths in the Republic last year has continued unabated in the first days of 2023.
The authority, a state agency charged with promoting road safety for cyclists and other road users, has responded to the recent deaths of pedestrians, who were all struck by motorists, by asking drivers to be more careful of elderly pedestrians who are on footpaths.
Some of the responses (below) to the RSA's messaging - after the deaths of four pedestrians in recent days and 41 last year - clearly reflected a level of frustration. Some of those responding accused the authority of being subservient to drivers. Others wondered why drivers would be on footpaths and why the RSA wouldn't tell drivers to stay off pavements, rather than be more careful on them.
Advertisement
"Why the **** would you be telling motorists it's OK to be on footpaths? But just to be a little more careful not to kill anyone while doing it," asked one.
Another reply said: "Motorists get off the ****ing footpaths and stop killing and injuring pedestrians of any age you absolute shites. There fixed it for you."
The RSA tweeted a photo of an elderly pedestrian - a staged image using an actress - with the message: "Older pedestrians (aged 65+) are most likely to be killed or seriously injured on the roads compared with other road users. Motorists, be aware of older pedestrians who might be using the footpaths. When we look out for each other, we keep each other safe #VisionZero."
"Motorists get off the fucking footpaths and stop killing and injuring pedestrians of any age you absolute shites".
There fixed it for you.
— CuriousDuck (@Wil_bike) January 13, 2023
Related News
Why the fuck would you be telling motorists it's OK to be on footpaths? But just to be a little more careful not to kill anyone while doing it.
— Short King Wenceslas (@FineAssHonky) January 13, 2023
Lads, you're not fit for purpose if you're posting this!!!
Why would there ever need to be a warning for motorists to be aware of pedestrians on a footpath? This is absolutely ridiculous
— Stephen Andrews (@numptyhunting) January 13, 2023
RSA: "I say drivers, would you mind awfully being careful?"
Drivers:https://t.co/kl5LAJWD03
— Adespoto (@Adespoto3) January 13, 2023
So motorists, if you are driving or parking illegally on the footpaths, keep doing that but just be a little more careful in case you knock down someone legally using it. Absolute nonsense again from @RSAIreland
— Eamonn Clarke (@efclarke) January 13, 2023
This is a very weak statement. How about being a little less subservient to the drivers killing other people
— Caelen King (@Caelen) January 13, 2023
