[Video] Latest in the Gardai crackdown on errant cyclists on red light jumping

Tallon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqg233-rCLo

Link

Edit: this is not my video, link above!

_Kaiser_

Ah now, you know how it works - do as I say, not as I do! :rolleyes:

Bigus

Brilliant well posted

NinjaTruncs

You started moving before the lights went red also. Those without sin and so on.

MugMugs

Aren't Gardai exempt from the rta when on duty?

worded

MugMugs wrote: »

Aren't Gardai exempt from the rta when on duty?

Do they sell second hand ones ? Sorted then

MugMugs

worded wrote: »

Do they sell second hand ones ? Sorted then

This statement does not make sense to me.

Tallon

NinjaTruncs wrote: »

You started moving before the lights went red also. Those without sin and so on.

It's not me!

Also, the cyclist clearly knows the light sequence and knew it was changing. He was anticipating it by readying himself! Something which drivers should be doing too since they wait until the light is solid green and then panic like it's a drag race!

Faith+1

Nothing surprises me anymore!

djimi

MugMugs wrote: »

Aren't Gardai exempt from the rta when on duty?

Not unless they have good reason to break the RTA I thought?

No Pants

MugMugs wrote: »

Aren't Gardai exempt from the rta when on duty?

I would have thought that would be in emergency situations only, not all the time. Perhaps someone on the job could confirm.

NinjaTruncs

Tallon wrote: »

It's not me!

Also, the cyclist clearly knows the light sequence and knew it was changing. He was anticipating it by readying himself! Something which drivers should be doing too since they wait until the light is solid green and then panic like it's a drag race!

Ah sorry, didn't realise it was someone else.

Chimaera

Gardaí (and other emergency services) are subject to the rules of the road the same as everyone else unless it's an emergency situation requiring the use of lights and sirens. This could get a little murky for the bike guys since they don't have lights and sirens though

No Pants

Chimaera wrote: »

Gardaí (and other emergency services) are subject to the rules of the road the same as everyone else unless it's an emergency situation requiring the use of lights and sirens. This could get a little murky for the bike guys since they don't have lights and sirens though

They could wave their arms around while shouting "999 emergency!"

ironclaw

No Pants wrote: »

They could wave their arms around while shouting "999 emergency!"

Team America :cool:

MugMugs

Chimaera wrote: »

Gardaí (and other emergency services) are subject to the rules of the road the same as everyone else unless it's an emergency situation requiring the use of lights and sirens. This could get a little murky for the bike guys since they don't have lights and sirens though

it doesn't say Emergency here.

Have you got a source for the emergency bit?

Exemptions for emergency vehicles.

27.—Requirements under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2004 relating to vehicles and requirements, restrictions and prohibitions relating to the driving and use of vehicles, other than those provided under sections 49 and 50 (inserted by sections 10 and 11, respectively, of the Act of 1994), 51A and 52 (inserted by sections 49 and 50, respectively, of the Act of 1968) and 53 of the Principal Act and sections 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the Act of 1994, do not apply to a driver of a fire brigade vehicle, an ambulance or the use by a member of the Garda Síochána of a vehicle in the performance of the duties of that member or a person driving or using a vehicle under the direction of a member of the Garda Síochána, where such use does not endanger the safety of road users.

Mycroft H

MugMugs wrote: »

it doesn't say Emergency here.

Have you got a source for the emergency bit?

There is exemptions to this; they cannot drive dangerously or without due care and attention or under the influence of drink/drugs.

MugMugs

BX 19 wrote: »

There is exemptions to this; they cannot drive dangerously or without due care and attention or under the influence of drink/drugs.

Granted however in the instance above, it appears that that Garda was operating within his rights as an on duty Garda.

Mycroft H

MugMugs wrote: »

Granted however in the instance above, it appears that that Garda was operating within his rights as an on duty Garda.

Not disputing that. If he'd creamed a pedestrian, I'd be saying otherwise.

veetwin

BX 19 wrote: »

Not disputing that. If he'd creamed a pedestrian, I'd be saying otherwise.

Ah come on...he was at walking pace and checked left and right before correctly reading the situation and anticipating the light sequence. He was hardly going to "cream" a pedestrian!

DavyD_83

Tallon wrote: »

It's not me!

Also, the cyclist clearly knows the light sequence and knew it was changing. He was anticipating it by readying himself! Something which drivers should be doing too since they wait until the light is solid green and then panic like it's a drag race!

I'm no cycling Garda groupie, but I would have thought this was also what the Gard was doing. Presumably he knows the route and light sequence if it his usual patrol route.
He may have slightly pre-empted the lights, but in this situation I would have done exactly the same as the Garda (obv doesn't make it right, esp within the letter of the law).
Sometimes it is safer for cyclists to move off slightly ahead of traffic

Mycroft H

veetwin wrote: »

Ah come on...he was at walking pace and checked left and right before correctly reading the situation and anticipating the light sequence. He was hardly going to "cream" a pedestrian!

That's what I'm implying. Christ, people are ready to jump down your throat here.....

Tallon

DavyD_83 wrote: »

I'm no cycling Garda groupie, but I would have thought this was also what the Gard was doing. Presumably he knows the route and light sequence if it his usual patrol route.
He may have slightly pre-empted the lights, but in this situation I would have done exactly the same as the Garda (obv doesn't make it right, esp within the letter of the law).
Sometimes it is safer for cyclists to move off slightly ahead of traffic

No, he had no time to judge the lights... He arrived, checked it was clear, and went... on a solid red light!

Tallon

veetwin wrote: »

Ah come on...he was at walking pace and checked left and right before correctly reading the situation and anticipating the light sequence. He was hardly going to "cream" a pedestrian!

So as a motorist, am I allowed run a red light as long as there is no cars or pedestrians coming?

Anan1

Tallon wrote: »

So as a motorist, am I allowed run a red light as long as there is no cars or pedestrians coming?

As a Garda I think you are. IMO it's bad form to do it without a good reason, though.

MugMugs

Tallon wrote: »

So as a motorist, am I allowed run a red light as long as there is no cars or pedestrians coming?

Not as a motorist but as an on duty member of An Garda Siochana as dictated by the law of your land.

Tallon

Anan1 wrote: »

As a Garda I think you are. IMO it's bad form to do it without a good reason, though.

MugMugs wrote: »

Not as a motorist but as an on duty member of An Garda Siochana as dictated by the law of your land.

Are they actually allowed though? Sure they have to be responding to or from something?

They can't just go around running red lights or driving on the footpath

MugMugs

Tallon wrote: »

Are they actually allowed though? Sure they have to be responding to or from something?

No, in the course of their duty.

Anan1

Tallon wrote: »

Are they actually allowed though? Sure they have to be responding to or from something?

They can't just go around running red lights or driving on the footpath

I think it has to be 'in the course of duty', although I've never heard of a prosecution for it.

Tallon

MugMugs wrote: »

No, in the course of their duty.

Anan1 wrote: »

I think it has to be 'in the course of duty', although I've never heard of a prosecution for it.

Jesus Christ, that's ridiculous!

djimi

Surely "in the course of their duty" does not include driving to the shop to pick up a roll for lunch?

cpoh1

Lads, any Garda will tell you that "In the course of duty" does not mean "when on duty". There is a clear difference here.

In the course of duty means they need to break a RTA law in order to carry out their work. Getting from A to B, double parking at lunch, breaking the speed limit when in the course of normal working activities is not in the spirit of these exemptions. Gardai have been pulled on this before be their superintendants.

In an age where there is virtually no policing of driver behaviours except speeding the gardai really should be leading by example at the very least. How can they expect young impressionable drivers to take them seriously when they wont even respect the rules of the road themselves.

CiniO

cpoh1 wrote: »

Lads, any Garda will tell you that "In the course of duty" does not mean "when on duty". There is a clear difference here.

In the course of duty means they need to break a RTA law in order to carry out their work. Getting from A to B, double parking at lunch, breaking the speed limit when in the course of normal working activities is not in the spirit of these exemptions. Gardai have been pulled on this before be their superintendants.

In an age where there is virtually no policing of driver behaviours except speeding the gardai really should be leading by example at the very least. How can they expect young impressionable drivers to take them seriously when they wont even respect the rules of the road themselves.

That's sounded extremally strange for me from the very beginning when someone quoted this law a while ago on this forum.
How could garda be allowed no to obey traffic law, except in emergency (f.e chasing criminals, etc).
Most driving garda does is just moving from A to B.

CiniO

NinjaTruncs wrote: »

You started moving before the lights went red also. Those without sin and so on.

What's wrong with starting to move when light is still red.

There's nothing prohibiting anyone to start to move on the red light.
All you are not allowed to do, is proceed beyond the traffic light when light is red.

mb1725

Does RTA not stand for road traffic accident anymore?

visual

CiniO wrote: »

What's wrong with starting to move when light is still red.

There's nothing prohibiting anyone to start to move on the red light.
All you are not allowed to do, is proceed beyond the traffic light when light is red.

There is a big white line painted on the road that you shouldn't cross untill the light turns green.
Only then you should proceed with caution if your way is clear.

Years ago Garda use to pull up motorists for crossing this stop line before they became obsessed with speeding fines.

No Pants

BX 19 wrote: »

creamed a pedestrian

Cycling bukkake is difficult to perform and requires a fair amount of skill and practice. However, when done right, it does convey a certain measure of contempt for other commuters. I don't think it's appropriate for Gardai, on or off duty.

MugMugs

mb1725 wrote: »

Does RTA not stand for road traffic accident anymore?

Road Traffic Act...