Cyclists may not like this news.
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross made a progressive statement regarding cyclist visibility on Irish roads this weekend.
According to KildareStreet.com, Fianna Fail transport spokesman Robert Troy asked Ross “his plans to bring forward legislation to make it compulsory to wear a high-visibility top and reflective clothing on unlit roads after dark; and if he will make a statement on the matter.”
In a written response, this was Ross’ statement on the matter: “To create a statutory obligation on the wearing of reflective clothing would entail making it a criminal offence under Road Traffic legislation for any person guilty of not wearing high visibility clothing.”
“A person in breach of such a provision would fall to be issued with a fixed charge notice or summonsed to court, depending on whatever procedure would be put in place for the processing of such offences. I am of the view that despite certain obstacles, this measure is worth pursuing, if it could save even one life.”
“However, in the short term, I am exploring whether the wearing of high visibility clothing is better achieved by way of educational and publicity campaigns run by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) rather than by pursuing a punitive approach to the issue, particularly having regard to the large numbers of children and young people who cycle.”
Earlier this year, the same idea was put forward by Troy – and, at time time, publicly supported by Ross – but Road Safety Authority CEO Moyagh Murdock bluntly informed politicians at a Oireachtas Committee on Transport that Ireland was not a police state, and that forcing cyclists to wear specific clothing would be essentially tantamount to that.
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