New road safety proposals

monkeypants

Main points below, the rest of the badly written article is here.

NEW powers will allow gardai to check the phone records of motorists involved in crashes, to see if they were using a mobile phone at the time.

Putting an onus on motorists to ensure their vehicles have undergone NCT or road-worthiness tests before they can secure motor tax.

A clampdown on drivers suffering from a serious illness, ensuring that they have permission from their doctor to drive.

Making it obligatory to keep a first-aid kit in a vehicle.

Setting a target for the rollout of US-style roadside sobriety checks to test for drug use.

More speed-calming measures to protect vulnerable road users, such as the elderly, children and cyclists.

Greater promotion of safe cycling to increase the numbers cycling to and from work and school.

Outlining a new policy on speed limits across road categories.

Setting out serious injuries statistics in the ongoing daily toll of casualties.

I've never used a phone while driving and I don't intend to, but I'm wondering how this will work. It's quite possible that a recent call or text was made/sent while pulled over and the crash happened only moments later. Can't tell if I was reading a text. Also, my phone probably sends bits of data intermittently while it's in my pocket, will I have to switch my phone to airplane mode while driving?

Regarding the first aid kit, that's fine with me, but don't expect me to do anything more than put on a plaster. If at the scene of an accident involving someone else, what liability do I have when attending injuries to another?

AugustusMinimus

The phone records issue seems like an invasion of privacy to me.

This new speed limits policy will most likely see every secondary N road in Ireland revert to 80 kph :rolleyes:

alcof89

monkeypants wrote: »

Main points below, the rest of the badly written article is here.

I've never used a phone while driving and I don't intend to, but I'm wondering how this will work. It's quite possible that a recent call or text was made/sent while pulled over and the crash happened only moments later. Can't tell if I was reading a text. Also, my phone probably sends bits of data intermittently while it's in my pocket, will I have to switch my phone to airplane mode while driving?

Regarding the first aid kit, that's fine with me, but don't expect me to do anything more than put on a plaster. If at the scene of an accident involving someone else, what liability do I have when attending injuries to another?

This whole 'safe cycling' thing is a joke... It would be fine if THEY followed the rules, but with most of them breaking red lights and not looking when going into the middle of the road - perhaps some of the attention should be shifted onto the cyclist!

Anan1

How will they know whether the phone was being used with or without a car kit? Or do they not care?

corktina

Nothing to see here, move along.....however many new regulations are made, it wont make a bit of difference if they aren't enforced. I believe we should disband the Army and divert those resources into AGS, doubling it's effectiveness to deal with Road Safety issues and more importantly rampant crime

AltAccount

Anan1 wrote: »

How will they know whether the phone was being used with or without a car kit? Or do they not care?

I have a bluetooth earpiece in the car, am I now exempt from this line of investigation in the case of an accident?

It's unenforceable tbh...

I.S.T.

monkeypants wrote: »

Main points below, the rest of the badly written article is here.

I've never used a phone while driving and I don't intend to, but I'm wondering how this will work. It's quite possible that a recent call or text was made/sent while pulled over and the crash happened only moments later. Can't tell if I was reading a text. Also, my phone probably sends bits of data intermittently while it's in my pocket, will I have to switch my phone to airplane mode while driving?

Regarding the first aid kit, that's fine with me, but don't expect me to do anything more than put on a plaster. If at the scene of an accident involving someone else, what liability do I have when attending injuries to another?

I think it would be hard to prove someone was using the phone at the time of the crash. They would need to know the exact time of the crash and how could they know that unless there was a black box in the car?

monkeypants

alcof89 wrote: »

This whole 'safe cycling' thing is a joke... It would be fine if THEY followed the rules, but with most of them breaking red lights and not looking when going into the middle of the road - perhaps some of the attention should be shifted onto the cyclist!

Boards has dozens of threads on Motorist vs. cyclist. I don't think another one will add anything new. Can we please keep this thread to the other points that could potentially impact motorists more?

By the way, I cycle and drive, so I have no particular preference other than to be left alone in safety.