Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Nov 2009

Vol. 197 No. 13

Road Safety.

Senator Cecilia Keaveney

I thank the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, for coming before the House to discuss the issue I raise which is cross-departmental in nature. In giving notice of the matter I deliberately asked how much money had been raised from fines imposed on those found not to be in compliance with the legal requirements for cyclists. While it may appear from the wording used that I am anti-cycling, the opposite is the case. If, however, cycling is to be safe, people who exercise their right to cycle must accept the responsibility to be visible. When cyclists are visible, they and other road users, pedestrians and drivers, will be protected.

In response to an inquiry I have been informed that cyclists are legally required to have a white light on the front of their bicycle, a red light at its rear and to wear a reflective jacket. I am pleased the new Dublin bikes scheme complies with two of these three requirements. While the bicycles have lights, front and back, I am not aware of any steps to ensure users wear a reflective jacket.

The Garda in County Mayo, specifically Foxford, has adopted a softly-softly approach to cyclists who are not in compliance with road safety regulations by rapping them on the knuckles and asking them to wear a reflective jacket. I welcome this development because the Garda has not taken the issue of road safety for cyclists sufficiently seriously.

The reason I raise the issue of fines is to bring attention to non-compliance by cyclists with road safety regulations. In the past, when little technology was available, a dynamo could be used to generate light for cyclists and the more one pedalled, the more light the device produced. Dynamos produce light, even when a bike is being pushed. In this era of advanced technology I fail to understand the reason many bicycles are manufactured without any form of lighting. We should work together in the European Union to ensure manufacturers of bicycles are required to meet basic safety requirements. No one uses a bicycle at home or in a community hall. All bicycles are used outside. With the hours of darkness becoming longer, it is more important than ever that cyclists are visible.

Government strategy is to encourage more people to cycle, while ensuring cycling is safe. However, I have raised the issue of safety requirements for cyclists on a number of occasions to no avail. It was for this reason I used controversial terminology to draw attention to the issue. I hope the relevant authorities will endeavour to ensure manufacturers will be required to fit lighting to bicycles.

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív)

Táim ag freagairt anseo ar son an Aire Dlí agus Cirt, Comhionannais agus Athchóirithe Dlí nach bhfuil in ann a bheith i láthair.

The Government attaches great importance to road safety and is committed to increasing the safety of all those who use our roads. Current Government policy is set out in the road safety strategy for 2007-12 which was prepared on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, by the Road Safety Authority following public consultation and direct engagement with key stakeholders. It sets out 126 specific measures, who is responsible for their implementation and the completion date. Its overall objective is to reduce fatalities to 60 fatalities per million of population, or 252 per year. We are making steady progress towards that objective. While every death is one too many, the lowest number of road fatalities, some 279, was recorded last year. To date this year, there have been 42 fewer deaths than in the same period last year.

An Garda Síochána rigorously enforces the legislation in place to ensure errant road users, including cyclists, who place their own lives and those of other road users at risk are made amenable for their actions. Road traffic legislation, including legislation on the use of bicycles on roads, is the responsibility of the Department of Transport. The legislation imposing lighting requirements on pedal cycles is contained in regulation 29 of the Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations 1963.

Offences relating to bicycle lighting are dealt by way of court summons. With regard to 2003-07, the most recently available Central Statistics Office figures show a total of 2,882 offences leading to proceedings under legislation for offences relating to bicycle lighting, including offences relating to bicycle front and rear lamps and reflectors. These resulted in 385 recorded convictions. Specifically, with regard to prosecutions for having no front or back light on a bicycle, the Minister is informed by the Courts Service that in 2008 there were 19 prosecutions. In regard to these prosecutions, a total of €1,935 was imposed in fines.

The EU sets construction standards for all motorised vehicles by setting minimum standards for construction that must be met before vehicles enter into service. In addition to entry into service requirements, Irish legislation sets in-use requirements for vehicles under the Construction, Equipment and Use Regulations. These requirements include lighting requirements for pedal cycles and are enforced by An Garda Síochána. The EU continues to set standards for the construction of new bicycles under the general product safety directive which are adopted in Ireland, thereby promoting the construction of safe bicycles. Ireland will continue to contribute to the development of further such EU initiatives.

Enforcement of the law relating to cyclists is clearly important. However, long-term and lasting change in behaviour will be brought about only by bringing cyclists, pedestrian and all road users to the realisation that how they behave is vital to ensuring their safety. Cyclists are particularly vulnerable users, together with pedestrians, motor cyclists, young children and older people. Over the period 1997-2007, 4,353 people were killed on Irish roads. Out of this total, 22% or 958 were pedestrians, 11.6% or 503 were motorcyclists and 3.5% or 155 were cyclists. There must be increased awareness among cyclists of their responsibilities in regard to being seen and adopting safe cycle practice generally. However, crucially there also needs to be greater awareness among motorists, be they HGV, bus or car drivers, about the need to behave responsibly towards cyclists.

Awareness is a long-term project. It is not simply a matter of running an advertising campaign. To that end, the Department of Transport published an ambitious national cycle strategy last April which details 109 individual but integrated actions which will be taken over the coming 12 years to deliver a culture of safe cycling in Ireland. It addresses all issues relevant to cycling with the intention of creating a real culture of cycling. It deals comprehensively with the issue of safe cycling, including the need for basic cycle training and behaviour and awareness of road users towards the needs of cyclists.

Senator Cecilia Keaveney

I thank the Minister for the response. I draw his attention to the fact that I walked for two miles recently and kept an account of the number of bikes which passed and out of the 50 bicycles which passed me, 30 had no front or back light. There were 19 prosecutions for this offence last year. I walked past St. Stephen's Green shopping centre where there is a railing full of bicycles and eight out of ten had no front or back lights. I am not necessarily blaming the cyclists, but it is one thing to have cyclist education and another to have compulsory lighting on bicycles. I would like to see our strategy coming from both sides and that manufacturers and cyclists would be prompted to use lights. It is one thing to buy a bicycle with no light, but another matter entirely to buy one with a light which one does not use. Technology must have advanced sufficiently to overcome the reality of what is currently outside the door.