The Minister for Road Safety in Ireland says the government is “considering” introducing hi-visibility clothing, and helmets for cyclists if the restrictions imposed on e-scooters in the country work.
The government has been looking to tackle the rising use of e-scooters, and is set to introduce measures that treat private e-scooters in the same way as mopeds, which require riders to wear helmets and register their vehicle. It follows what the government say is “a concerning pattern of serious and life-changing injuries caused by e-scooters.”
The proposals on mandatory hi-vis and helmets, coupled with a ban on riding e-scooters by under-18s, is due to be introduced in August, with the ‘moped’ reclassification due to take effect ‘later this year,’ though the government say, “an outright ban will remain on the table.” Unlike in the UK, where several hire providers of e-scooters exist, Extra.ie report that the Irish Government believe “there is ‘no logic’ in banning something that is dangerous but at the same time making exemptions for private firms.”
Speaking on The Last Word radio programme yesterday, Seán Canney said the government “have discussed” applying these laws to cyclists, though he stressed that the legislation would be focused on “the enormity of the problem we have at the moment with the e-scooters. When asked about the implementation of the reclassifying legislation for bicycles, Canney did not address possibly introducing registration plates, but said:
“We will look and see how we will progress with scooters, what effect it will have. If it’s a benefit, then of course we will look at helmets and hi-vis on cyclists as well.”
Canney’s comments have been criticised by the President of Cycling Ireland, and former government minister Ciarán Cannon, who told Extra that “presenting mandatory helmets and hi-vis as a serious road safety intervention is misleading. It is performative policy-making that diverts attention from real risks and risks making our streets less safe, not more.
“The greatest danger to people cycling or using scooters does not come from their clothing or headwear. It comes from motor traffic speed, volume and road design. Helmets do not prevent collisions. High-visibility clothing does not slow vehicles, fix junctions or address dangerous overtaking.
“Fewer people cycling or scooting does not make roads safer. It makes them more car-dominated, and more dangerous overall,” Cannon said.
The minister’s comments are the latest in a long-running campaign by politicians in the country to mandate cyclists to wear high visibility clothing. In January, the Department for Transport u-turned on a proposal to give police the power to fine cyclists who did not wear hi-vis whilst riding, following criticism from active travel campaigners.
However, the National Bus and Rail Union told the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) the following month, saying the requirements would, “make the roads a safer place, as it would make potential hazards easier to spot.”
In April, County Councillors in Tipperary wrote to the Transport Minister requesting mandatory hi-vis be worn by pedestrians as well as cyclists at night, citing the “extreme difficulty” of driving along narrower country roads without daylight. It was unclear from their letter how the proposals would be enforced.
3 thoughts on ““Fewer people cycling or scooting does not make roads safer”: Minister criticised for suggesting Irish Government would consider mandatory hi-vis and helmets for all cyclists”
40% of fatal road incidents (70 deaths p.a.) in Ireland involve excess alcohol. Pass a law mandating compulsory alcohol interlocks for all motor vehicles and see what that does for road safety first.
…….the government was focused on the “enormity of the e-scooter problem”
Just wait until they find out how absolutely effing gigantic the car problem is.
The whole thing is just motornormativity at government level, and while Ciarán Cannon talks sense, Seán Canney is fecking eejit.
the National Bus and Rail Union told the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) the following month, saying the requirements (making the cyclist scum wear helmets and HiViz) would, “make the roads a safer place, as it would make potential hazards easier to spot.”
Nothing to do with driver behaviour then? Stagecoach is even putting intimidating threats against cyclists on the side of the buses now!
ttps://upride.cc/incident/px60beo_stagecoach41-closepass/