Vast majority of serious accidents on Dublins roads involve bikes/peds/motorbikes

Tallon

THE VAST MAJORITY of serious accidents on Dublin’s roads involve cyclists, pedestrians or motorcyclists, Gardaí have said.

Gardaí have launched a major operation to reduce the number of casualties on the capital’s streets after research found that October and November is traditionally a blackspot for serious accidents as clocks go back and evenings get shorter.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign today, Gardaí said:

• Out of 51 people who were killed or seriously injured on Dublin’s roads so far this year, more than three quarters were pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists.
• The most risky period for vulnerable users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists) is between 4pm and 6pm on a weekday (Monday to Friday).
• The Garda districts which saw the highest levels of fatal/serious crashes were Clondalkin, Tallaght, Coolock, Blanchardstown, Ballymun, Store Street, Lucan, Dún Laoghaire and Raheny.
• Almost 80 per cent of serious accidents happened in 50kph zones.
• There have been eight fatalities on Dublin’s roads so far this year.

The National Transport Authority is to give out up to 75oo sets of lights to cyclists at major events and popular cycling areas in order to increase their visibility as part of the casualty reduction plan.

All four of Dublin’s local authorities will run highly visable signs along roadsides urging drivers to reduce their speeds. Ads will also be placed on Dublin Buses and Luas trams to encourage road safety.

Speaking at the launch, Assistant Commissioner Gerard Philips said that Dublin now has the safest roads of all EU capital cities.

The Asst Commissioner also said that he would support recent calls for an increase in penalty points for drivers who use mobile phones, citing research which said that people are four times more likely to be in an accident if they use their phones while driving.

The plan to reduce casualties on the roads at this time of year, which is now in its third year, has seen a significant reduction in road fatalities. 32 people died on Dublin’s roads in October – November 2009, 19 died in 2010 and there were 11 fatalities during the same period in 2011.

http://jrnl.ie/617881


So what does the Motors forum think?

It's nice to see them implementing these steps

ballooba

"All four of Dublin’s local authorities will run highly visable signs along roadsides urging drivers to reduce their speeds."

I imagine the RSA brainstorming sessions as being like the episode of Father Ted with the bomb on the milk float....

"Is there nothing to be said for another Speed Kills sign?"

As for people on mobile phones, I make no concessions for them as a pedestrian and minimal as a motorist. They should be allowed exit the gene pool with minimal fuss.

JuliusCaesar

I wonder do 90% of these accidents involve motor vehicles? It's hard to imagine that cyclists are running pedestrians down at this rate. :-)

Seasoft

Apart from Store Street, all the other Garda areas with the higher accident rates are in the suburbs. No surprise. Unlike our Continental neighbours, bar the UK, we have a dismal system of pedestrian priority crossings. In France,Spain, Italy, etc. every junction has painted white pedestrian crossings. Here the four local authorities put cinder tracks, which mean nothing, and insist on expensive pelican, light controlled crossings. Due to cost they are few and far between.

Until our towns, and in this case, our suburbs, have properly designed and frequent pedestrian priority crossings motorists will not have a pedestrian safety outlook, and the statistics will continue as they are.

If all the money spent on speed ramps was used for pedestrian crossings I wonder what the result would be? For those that know it, take Whitworth Rd in Drumcondra. I think 5 sets of ramps. Also bus stops. NO pedestrian crossing to or from the bus-stops. Why not?

dudara

ballooba wrote: »

"All four of Dublin’s local authorities will run highly visable signs along roadsides urging drivers to reduce their speeds."

The single best thing that they could do would be to ticket and fine people heavily for parking in cycle lanes. And, for the likes of Rathmines, turn those lanes into 24 hr lanes.

I cycle around at weekends etc (not frequently), but it's flipping dangerous having to weave in and around parked cars.

Atomic Pineapple

I dunno how I haven't seen someone killed on the road at the dart station in Dun Laoghaire, pedestrians do be suicidal after exiting the platform and trying to cross the road there and at the set of lights nearby, I've seen pedestrians literally walk straight out in front of moving cars with total disregard for their own safety.

JuliusCaesar

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

I wonder do 90% of these accidents involve motor vehicles? It's hard to imagine that cyclists are running pedestrians down at this rate. :-)

Indeed, gnomey drivers quite likely responsible.

alias no.9

Seasoft wrote: »

Apart from Store Street, all the other Garda areas with the higher accident rates are in the suburbs. No surprise. Unlike our Continental neighbours, bar the UK, we have a dismal system of pedestrian priority crossings. In France,Spain, Italy, etc. every junction has painted white pedestrian crossings. Here the four local authorities put cinder tracks, which mean nothing, and insist on expensive pelican, light controlled crossings. Due to cost they are few and far between.

Until our towns, and in this case, our suburbs, have properly designed and frequent pedestrian priority crossings motorists will not have a pedestrian safety outlook, and the statistics will continue as they are.

If all the money spent on speed ramps was used for pedestrian crossings I wonder what the result would be? For those that know it, take Whitworth Rd in Drumcondra. I think 5 sets of ramps. Also bus stops. NO pedestrian crossing to or from the bus-stops. Why not?

Not certain about the rest but while the junctions in Spain may have crossings marked, these are to indicate the only place you may cross, motorists are only obliged to stop if you have clearly signalled your intent to cross. If you cross anywhere else and you can be fined. I'm all for more pedestrian crossings if pedestrians stay off the road everywhere else.

boiledsweets

with bikes and motorbikes by the nature of them,you only(in a car or even worse a lorry with bad mirroring)see them at the last possible second,people on bikes and cyclists should proceed with caution when coming up along side a car or even worse a lorry,they should go that bit slower so we can spot them on time.

Having said that im sure there are a few dickhead drivers too,and we cant say all car drivers are perfect either,thats not what im saying..

awec

This post has been deleted.

Tallon

Will you all stop FFS!!!

Here we go again with the bike v pedestrian v motor arguments

Read the article;

Out of 51 people who were killed or seriously injured on Dublin’s roads so far this year, more than three quarters were pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists.

It's saying that the people that were injured were pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists

The point being, EVERYONE (Not just motorists) need to be more vigilant of these people on the roads as they are more vulnerable than a person in a car

Hence why they are handing out Lights, hi-vis etc...

One thread without This V That would be nice here...

Eric Cartman

cyclists and pedestrians need to take more care on the road, all the advertising puts the blame squarely on car drivers, often a lot of these accidents are to do with pedestrians and cyclists not paying attention / cyclists ignoring rules of the road.

If there was a campaign to make other road users more aware instead of focusing on cars, after all a bike or person can stop in a few meters, a car takes longer to stop.

ShadowHearth

I'll say it...

I drove in Dublin... Thanks, but no thanks. That place is like Wild West when it comes to people on bikes.
I would not be surprised if a huge part of accidents is caused by careless bicycle drivers themselfs. I not saying all car drivers are saint too, there are alot of idiots too, but **** me, if I drove only twice in Dublin for the last 7 years and the only thing that scared me ****lessly were careless bicycle drivers then I presume there is something wrong in that part of road users.

*getting ready to be hanged by anyone who used a bike at least once in the last 5 years

terrydel

dudara wrote: »

The single best thing that they could do would be to ticket and fine people heavily for parking in cycle lanes. And, for the likes of Rathmines, turn those lanes into 24 hr lanes.

I cycle around at weekends etc (not frequently), but it's flipping dangerous having to weave in and around parked cars.

Stop weaving then!

terrydel

My experience of commuting (via motorbike) daily for the last 8 years, from Tallaght/Clondalkin to Ballsbridge, is that cyclists as a general group are by far and away the worst culprits when it comes to braking the rules and dangerous behaviour. Every day I see at least one thing from one of them that beggars belief.
The impression I get from many is that they expect others to ensure they arent killed or injured, its not their job to ensure that themselves.
For the record, plenty of motorcyclists are no better.

Cienciano

The groups of people who are injured are the ones without a metal cage around them with crumple zones and lined with airbags? Who'd have thought it!
Handing out a few hi viz jackets isn't going to do anything, but as we all know, political decisions aren't about doing the right thing, it's about looking like your're doing something.
Policing the existing traffic laws would be far more effective. I travel across the city every day for 12 years and it's only once I've seen someone pulled over for a dangerous move.

terrydel

Cienciano wrote: »

The groups of people who are injured are the ones without a metal cage around them with crumple zones and lined with airbags? Who'd have thought it!
Handing out a few hi viz jackets isn't going to do anything, but as we all know, political decisions aren't about doing the right thing, it's about looking like your're doing something.
Policing the existing traffic laws would be far more effective. I travel across the city every day for 12 years and it's only once I've seen someone pulled over for a dangerous move.

Spot on. The EU nanny state nonsense coming down the tracks for motorcyclists is a load of rubbish. Won't make a difference.

Guy:Incognito

As I said in another thread, I'm amazed cyclists arent being killed or inured all the time on the roundabout over the M50 at Tallaght. Despite a lovely cycle lane routed under the road and kept completey seperate from the dual carriageway all the way down to Templeogue, an increaseing number of cyclists seem determind to cycle on the road , including over the roundabout over the M50.

https://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=53.291091,-6.331558&spn=0.002572,0.006968&t=h&z=18

Cienciano wrote: »

The groups of people who are injured are the ones without a metal cage around them with crumple zones and lined with airbags? Who'd have thought it!
.

You'd think the ones without the metal cage would be much more cautious about their own safety so , wouldnt you?

There seems to be an awful lot of "it'll never happen to me" and "the cars will stop for me" attitude from pedestrians, cyclists and motor bike riders on the roads.

Mycroft H

ShadowHearth wrote: »

I'll say it...

I drove in Dublin... Thanks, but no thanks. That place is like Wild West when it comes to people on bikes.
I would not be surprised if a huge part of accidents is caused by careless bicycle drivers themselfs. I not saying all car drivers are saint too, there are alot of idiots too, but **** me, if I drove only twice in Dublin for the last 7 years and the only thing that scared me ****lessly were careless bicycle drivers then I presume there is something wrong in that part of road users.

*getting ready to be hanged by anyone who used a bike at least once in the last 5 years

I'm a person who owns a bike. And cycles pretty regularly in the city centre. I would agree with you partway. A lot of accidents, in my opinion could be prevented by prominent road positioning, sensible cycling and being lit up.

Although for some interesting facts on the matter have a look at this

<DCC Report on cycling fatalities >

11 Fatalities
8 of these deaths were of cyclists killed by left-turning Lorries.
1 involved a vehicle hitting a cyclist when changing lanes
1 a vehicle rear-ended the cyclist
1 was caused by a stolen vehicle driving head on into a cyclist.

Cars involved in 70% of cyclist accidents

Almost 70 per cent off all cycle collisions involved cars.

Left-turning vehicles were involved the majority of fatalities,
The most common collision involved right-turning cars. These accounted for just fewer than 20 per cent of incidents.

The next most common type is classified as “side swipes”, accounting for 15 per cent of collisions. These occur where a vehicle overtaking a cyclist or changing lanes hits the bicycle.

Door opening accidents accounted for about 14 per cent of incidents
Left-turning vehicles hitting cyclists accounted for just over 12 per cent.

Crashes where the fault is more likely to be attributable to the cyclist accounted for a much smaller proportion of incidents. In just over 4 per cent a cyclist hit a pedestrian, while in fewer than 3 per cent of collisions a cyclist turned right into on-coming traffic

http://www.traceysolicitors.ie/blog/cyclists-in-dublin-facts-figures-on-accidents/

sean_d

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

As I said in another thread, I'm amazed cyclists arent being killed or inured all the time on the roundabout over the M50 at Tallaght. Despite a lovely cycle lane routed under the road and kept completey seperate from the dual carriageway all the way down to Templeogue, an increaseing number of cyclists seem determind to cycle on the road , including over the roundabout over the M50.

Have you ever attempted to use that cycle lane?

Some problems, listed in order going from Tallaght towards Tempelogue:
1)Requires knowing that you need to leave the road early.
2)Requires negotiating the steel gate and descending the hairpins onto the under-roundabout complex
3)The entire of the cycle lane under the over the M50 is littered with glass
4)Several of the drainage channels are liable to cause a puncture
5)At certain times of day, it can involve a run in with groups of youths hanging around in the underpass
6)The tarmac is badly damaged in places, often due to fires being lit there by aforementioned youths
7)Slalom through the steel bollards at the far side of the M50
8)The section alongside the Spawell is lumpy, bumpy, cracked, undermined by tree roots and unsuitable for anything above walking speed
8)It spits you out in an awkward place at the roundabout, on the pedestrian crossing

The roundabout isn't that bad, if you have your wits about you and hold your lane. Certainly I'd put it at least on a par with the cycle lane option.

Chuck Stone

Better cycle lanes protected with concrete dividers would probably slash the accident rate.

Guy:Incognito

sean_d wrote: »

Have you ever attempted to use that cycle lane?
.

Yes. From April to July this year I was cycling from tallaght to Ballasbridge and used it.

I found it fine. A couple of damaged parts of tarmac but it was grand.

Its a 15 yard stretch then a hairpin. Hardly a massive inconvenience. https://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=53.290284,-6.333107&spn=0.000002,0.001742&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=53.290284,-6.333107&panoid=Ra8bcvs8fr1S7o49UrqEVg&cbp=12,321.71,,0,-10.6

sean_d wrote: »

The roundabout isn't that bad, if you have your wits about you and hold your lane. Certainly I'd put it at least on a par with the cycle lane option.

Any car driver that misses the slip road on to the M50 comign from Tallaght or just changes their mind about heading down towards Templeogue and takes the M50 instead isnt going to be expectign a bike to be crossing their lane from their left there.

The lanes are not wide enough for a car to go past a bike while staying in lane.

It's bad enough in a car with people drifting across lanes. I've lost count of the amount of near misses I've had with idiots.

goz83

draffodx wrote: »

I've seen pedestrians literally walk straight out in front of moving cars with total disregard for their own safety.

Sure they know if they're hit, they'll be able to inject some sweet, sweet cash into their bank account, courtesy of the motorists insurance.

Roanmore

Walking around Dungarvan today (wouldn't have a fraction of the traffic in Dublin) and I was amazed at the the amount of school kids walking out in front of cars at junctions forcing the cars to stop. It was as if having a school uniform made them immune from getting hit.

Pottler

I think a zero tolerance approach should be taken in light of the horrendous figures. Immediate ban on walking, cycling and motorbiking. It's the only answer.

Chuck Stone

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Better cycle lanes protected with concrete dividers would probably slash the accident rate.

A bit difficult if you want to turn right in that image though.

opti0nal

goz83 wrote: »

Sure they know if they're hit, they'll be able to inject some sweet, sweet cash into their bank account, courtesy of the motorists insurance.

That's because the drivers were found to be blameworthy. Look around you...78% of drivers break urban speed limits. Cell phone use, not stopping on amber, not giving way to pedestrians.....small wonder insurance costs so much.

ThisRegard

This thread, again?

Rocheydub

I fall into all categories. I cycle to work, jog to work, walk to work and often drive... I can assure you all, there are guilty parties on all sides. But some car drivers are utterly ignorant of cyclists, and "cycle lanes" are in very poor condition throughout the city of Dublin...

I have been 'hit' 3 times in the last 5 years by vehicles turning left, no indicators on, and turning in on top of me...

I use the term 'hit' very loosely, I haven't been injured once, but have had massive amounts of road rage as a result!!!

Funnily enough, 2 of the incidents mentioned above involved aircoach buses. I find their drivers most ignorant of other road users... Like taxi drivers in the city of a Saturday night!!! The other involved an L driver, maybe 18 years old, on is own in the car, who proceeded to tell me I was in the wrong.... I doubt he'll do it again!!!

Eric Cartman

Rocheydub wrote: »

I fall into all categories. I cycle to work, jog to work, walk to work and often drive... I can assure you all, there are guilty parties on all sides. But some car drivers are utterly ignorant of cyclists, and "cycle lanes" are in very poor condition throughout the city of Dublin...

I have been 'hit' 3 times in the last 5 years by vehicles turning left, no indicators on, and turning in on top of me...

I use the term 'hit' very loosely, I haven't been injured once, but have had massive amounts of road rage as a result!!!

Funnily enough, 2 of the incidents mentioned above involved aircoach buses. I find their drivers most ignorant of other road users... Like taxi drivers in the city of a Saturday night!!! The other involved an L driver, maybe 18 years old, on is own in the car, who proceeded to tell me I was in the wrong.... I doubt he'll do it again!!!

you should never be on the left hand side of a truck or bus where it might turn left, they have a massive blind spot , stay behind or infront but never alongside.

Spook_ie

A lot of this can probably be explained by the phenomenon of taxis not stopping for people hailing them at night, it works very simply

Just because YOU can see the taxi, don't assume the taxi has seen you!



So if you have a reflective whatever, a torch, a lamp stuck on top of your head whatever, then use it!!!! and give every road user a chance to spot you