As the darker evenings draw in, the risks on our roads increase – especially for vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is urging everyone to take extra care on the road as the clocks go back this Bank Holiday weekend.
Pedestrians are particularly at risk, with 521 pedestrians seriously injured on Irish roads during the hours of darkness between 2020 and 2024.
One-third of these serious injuries happening between October and December.
Also between 2020 and 2024, one-fifth of all serious injuries to cyclists and motorcyclists happened in the hours of darkness.
Bank Holiday
This Bank Holiday weekend, the RSA is reminding all road users that visibility and vigilance are crucial to keeping everyone safe.
Drivers are being reminded to use dipped headlights at all times to ensure other road users can see them coming.
In dark or wet conditions, reduce your speed to allow enough time to see other road users walking, cycling, or riding on two wheels.
Be safe
Meanwhile, pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and e-scooterists have a responsibility to ensure they can be seen by drivers.
Pedestrians should wear high-visibility or reflective clothing to ensure they can be seen – and use a torch for unlit roads.
If there is no footpath, a pedestrian should walk on the right-hand side of the road, facing oncoming traffic.
For cyclists, motorcyclists and e-scooter users, now is the time to check that your lights are working properly.
You should always wear a helmet, as well as reflective or high-visibility clothing to stay visible in low-light conditions.
Be seen
Wearing retroreflective clothing can allow a driver to see a pedestrian or cyclist from 150m away – a distance that falls to just 30m without it.
That can give a driver five times the distance to see and safely avoid a vulnerable road user.
When everyone makes the effort to be seen and stay alert, we make the roads safer for all.
This Bank Holiday weekend, slow down, be alert, take care and look out for each other.
