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Tag Archives: RSA

Take greater care with tractors on the roads

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) have urged road users to take extra care, as the number of tractors, trailers and other farm machinery on the roads increases over the summer months. The appeal comes as many farmers around the country are in the middle of the silage cutting season. Ms Moyagh Murdock, chief rxecutive, RSA said, “This is a very busy time of year for farmers, with silage cutting already underway. The number of tractors and trailers out using the roads will increase dramatically. As a result the risk of a collision involving a road user and farm machinery has increased. As such I am asking all drivers to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other farm machinery exiting from fields and farm yards. If you are travelling behind farm machinery, please be patient and only over take when it’s safe to do so. We should all expect the unexpected, as …

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Warning to women on seatbelts

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has launched a new digital road safety campaign focusing on the misuse of seatbelts by women. The campaign entitled “Get This Season’s Killer Look”, is aimed at discouraging women from wearing their seatbelts under their arm, which can cause horrific injuries in the event of a collision. A study of 300 women aged 17 to 34, undertaken in 2016 by Behaviour & Attitudes, on behalf of the RSA found that: · 28% admitted to misusing a seatbelt by wearing it under the arm, rising to 35% among younger women. · 53% of those interviewed said that their friends wore the seatbelt under the arm · The main reasons cited for wearing the seatbelt under the arm were to relieve neck tension (49%) and for general comfort (47%). · 9% said it was to protect their tan, or 7% to protect clothing. · While seatbelt compliance is consistently very strong among young females, it is not …

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Renewed warning on drink driving

As we head into the New Year, An Garda Síochána and the RSA are renewing their appeal to drivers to be responsible in relation to drinking and driving. Provisional figures indicate that since December 1, when the Christmas and New Year anti drink driving campaign was launched, there has been an increase of 34% in the number of arrests on suspicion of driving under the influence, a total of 738 compared to 549 for the same period in 2015. An Garda Síochána are warning drivesr that intoxicated driving will continue to be targeted by on a 24/7 basis, including the morning after, and appeal to every driver to be responsible and never, ever drink and drive. Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn said, “Tragically, there have been two fatalities over the past seven days, a motorcyclist on Christmas Day and a driver on St Stephen’s Day. On Christmas day alone 14 drivers were arrested by gardaí on suspicion of intoxicated driving. It …

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Six drink-driving detections over Christmas

SIX people have been detected drink driving in Clare over the Christmas period, with two of these being during the day time. Of the six drink drivers, one was detected at 9.20am on Monday, December 19 and another at lunchtime on December 21. Two were detected in the early hours of December 28. Although the drink-driving figures for the month of December to date show a “significant increase” in those driving while under the influence of alcohol, locally the statistics are down one on last year for the Christmas period. On December 1, An Garda Síochána and the RSA launched the Christmas and new year anti-drink driving campaign. This was heavily publicised across all broadcast mediums, particularly social media, and was fronted by the Treacy family, who tragically lost their four-year-old son Ciarán in a road traffic collision involving a drunk driver. Despite this stark ad, people continue to drive under the influence. Nationally, from December 1 to December 20, …

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Road safety appeal for cyclists

As part of National Bike Week, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has unveiled a series of online videos aimed at promoting awareness and safety among cyclists and other road-users. Using new technology to give viewers a 360 degree look at dangerous driving from a cyclist’s point of view, the videos allow the users to ‘look around’ and experience the dangers for themselves. The videos focus on the high risk behaviours that put vulnerable cyclists in danger, such as drivers not allowing enough space when overtaking, opening a car door without checking, or making a left turn when a cyclist is approaching. As the viewer changes their viewpoint, they can look at the action from another angle, see the dangers and risks of dangerous driving behaviour, and experience the shock that comes with them. Moyagh Murdock, chief executive, Road Safety Authority said, “Cyclists are among our most vulnerable road-users, yet many drivers do not demonstrate enough caution and awareness when sharing …

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Defective car tyres costing lives

Ennis and Clare motorists are being advised to check their car or vehicle tyres monthly, as a Road Safety Authority report identifies defective tyres, including low tyre pressure, as a very significant factor in road deaths. Defective tyres are one of the most significant factors causing road fatalities, according to Ennis Fine Gael councillor, Johnny Flynn. A former chief fire officer, he said improving awareness around safety on our roads is an ongoing priority. The RSA report shows that vehicle factors played a role in one in eight fatal collisions during the period between 2008 and 2012. Defective tyres represented almost two thirds of the vehicle factors identified. The recently published report is the first of its kind to be launched in Ireland, and it analyses An Garda Síochána’s Forensic Collision Investigation reports. According to Councillor Flynn, “This report paints a stark picture of the causes of road fatalities in Ireland. In a four-year period between 2008 and 2012, 983 …

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Election poster warning from RSA

With the General Election upon us, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has cautioned candidates, political parties and their campaign workers of the need to take extra care when positioning campaign posters. The RSA is advising that election posters should not be placed at the roadside in such a way that they obscure road signs, particularly those that relate to the Rules of the Road and road user safety. These would include Regulatory Signs such as ‘STOP’ and speed limit signs; Warning Signs such as junction and road works signs; as well as information signs which provide directions.They should not be placed in known collision prone zones, where they risk distracting drivers and where campaign workers may be at risk when putting them up. A full list of prohibited locations can be found on the Garda website www.garda.ie “The signage on our roads, whether put there by the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly the NRA), Local Authorities, the gardaí or construction and …

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Warning to drivers on ‘sun glare’

THE Road Safety Authority and gardaí are cautioning drivers about the the danger of ‘sun glare’, which results in drivers being temporarily dazzled or blinded by the intensity and brightness of a low sun. The appeal comes as provisional crash reports indicate that drivers being temporarily blinded by ‘sun glare’ may have been a contributory factor in five fatalities and nine serious injuries between 2014 and 2015. Moyagh Murdock, CEO, RSA said, “Because, at this time of the year, the sun sits so low in the sky, late in the morning and early evening, corresponding with the main commuting times, the sun visor on the car isn’t really much help at all. If a driver is driving straight into such a sun he or she can be completely dazzled by the sheer intensity and brightness of its rays. The situation is made worse if the windscreen is dirty or greasy or if it’s been raining, or the ground is covered …

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