Legislation is being introduced at the end of the month for €40 fines for cyclists who commit road traffic offences.
“Following consultations with the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána, I have decided to extend the fixed charge notice system to cyclists for seven of the 36 existing road traffic offences. These include breaking a red light, failure to have a front lamp or rear lamp lit during lighting-up hours and cycling without reasonable consideration.This new measure is intended to promote safe cycling practices and to discourage dangerous cycling,” Minister for Transport, Paschal Donohoe said.
The months of May through to September represent the most dangerous months for cyclist injuries and fatalities. Last year 13 cyclists were killed on our roads, while this year to date, three cyclists have lost their lives.
Minister Donohoe said, “The introduction of fixed charge notices for motorists has been hugely successful in changing driver behaviour and I am confident that a similar change in behaviour and attitudes by cyclists who break the law will result following the introduction of this measure. While the majority of cyclists obey the rules of the road, unfortunately there are some who do not. As a committed cyclist myself, I am of the view that the introduction of fixed charge notices for cyclists will increase awareness among cyclists and reinforce the message that cyclists have a responsibility in relation to obeying road traffic law. It will also provide another enforcement measure for An Garda Síochána.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.