Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2013
289. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if cyclists who break traffic lights can be prosecuted under existing road traffic legislation; and, if there is no such provision, if he has considered bringing forward such legislation in view of reports that a very small minority of speeding cyclists are acting in a dangerous manner by not yielding to pedestrians. [23511/13]
View answerCyclists, like all road users, are required to comply with road traffic legislation. This includes a requirement to respect traffic lights, both at junctions and at pedestrian crossings, and to keep to roads or cycle lanes. Cyclists can be prosecuted for breaches of the law.
Section 108 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 provides that a member of An Garda Síochána may demand the name and address of a pedal cyclist when intercepted committing a road traffic offence. The section also provides for the seizure of the bicycle if the cyclist refuses to provide their name and address or Garda suspects that false or misleading information has being given to them. Enforcement of the legislation is of course a matter for An Garda Síochána. Action No. 92 of the 2013 - 2020 Road Safety Strategy provides that my Department legislates for the extension of the fixed charge system to bring other offences within the scope of that system, including those related to cyclists. A completion date of the second quarter in 2014 has been set for that Action.
