Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 8 February 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Safety Strategy: Discussion

9:00 am

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps we would have a reduced taxi service or an incentivised scheme that allows publicans buy a people carrier in order to drop people home. There are no public transport supports in rural Ireland. The Minister should consider the matter.

Last year 36% of vulnerable road deaths, or 67 deaths, were either cyclists or pedestrians. There is nothing in the Minister's proposals for this year that stipulate a minimum distance at which it is safe to overtake a cyclist. The Minister's Government colleague has put forward a Bill on the matter. Will the legislation be taken this year? His proposals contain nothing to protect pedestrians. Seven of the 16 people who lost their lives this year were pedestrians. Where is it stated that it is mandatory for pedestrians walking at night to wear high visibility jackets? Last Christmas as I drove home I met a male pedestrian wearing black clothes from head to tow on a corner and nearly knocked him down. There is nothing about pedestrians in the proposals. The Minister should rectify the matter.

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