GARDAÍ IN Dublin mounted a high-profile checkpoint in Dame Street yesterday to advise pedestrian, cyclists and motorcyclists they account for two-thirds of those killed or injured in crashes in the city at this time of year.
The move is part of an eight-week initiative to reduce deaths and serious injuries by highlighting advice to “vulnerable road users” that they should be aware of “constant danger”.
Gardaí said they were particularly concerned about seasonal “spikes” in statistics which showed vulnerable road users to be particularly at risk in April and May.
Analysis of the April-May period over the past three years showed some 63 per cent of those killed or seriously injured were among the pedestrian, cyclist or motorcycle group.
The Garda also expressed concern that this year the Easter holidays and the May bank holiday weekend were so close. A special road safety campaign is to be set up to combat dangerous driving over the period.
Chief Supt Aidan Reid of the Dublin Metropolitan Region said yesterday’s exercise was part of a planned combination of high visibility enforcement and education, designed to reduce the numbers killed or seriously injured in the capital. “In particular, we are aiming at the younger inexperienced drivers; pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists,” he said.
