Motorists urged to look out for motorcyclists
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána are urging drivers to watch out for motorcyclists using the road over the May Bank Holiday Weekend.
The appeal is being made following a rise in motorcycle deaths in 2015. Since January, five motorcyclists have died in crashes compared to two up to the same period last year.
Drivers are being urged to constantly be on the lookout for motorcyclists, in their blind spots, at junctions and especially when turning right. Motorcyclists are asked to be extremely careful when overtaking, negotiating bends and to be particularly mindful of their speed.
Motorcyclists accounted for 12% of road deaths in 2014, despite making up less than two percent of motorists. Both 2013 and 2014 show peaks in motorcyclist fatalities during April/May, June and July. The greater number of fatalities over the summer months coincides with a period of good weather in both years.
Preliminarily collision analysis of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2014 shows that motorcyclist fatalities are highest among men aged 20-40. It reveals
that fatal collisions were most likely to occur at junctions, with either the motorcyclist or the other vehicle exiting on or off a main road; this type of manoeuvre led to eight fatalities in 2014.
Overtaking manoeuvres and losing control of the motorcycle also emerged as noteworthy contributory factors. Motorcyclist fatalities are most likely to occur in the afternoon and early evening from 4pm-8pm and eight out of ten motorcyclist fatalities occurred either on roads with an 80km/h speed limit or a 100km/h speed limit.
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe appealed to all road users, ahead of the Bank Holiday, to take extra care when using the roads. “The May bank holiday weekend was a very bad weekend for road safety last year. We lost five lives and six people sustained serious injuries over that four day period, he remarked.
“I would appeal to everyone to be mindful of how you use the road, whether you are walking, cycling, riding a motorbike or driving. Ask yourself - what can I do to make this journey a safe one, for others, for my passengers and for myself? It could be something as simple as making more of a conscious effort to watch out for motorcyclist in blind spots, putting the mobile out of reach when driving or wearing the high visibility jacket when out walking. If we all make small changes it will make a big difference,” Minister Donohoe added.