Four in five cyclists get injured on urban roads in Ireland with more than half occurring at junctions, according to a new study.
Research unveiled by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) in Ireland looked at the trends in cyclist injuries on Irish roads from 2006-2018 and is now calling for investment in cycling infrastructure, increased 30km/h limits in urban areas and for motorists to reduce their speed.
Key findings from the study include:
- More cyclists injured during morning and evening commutes
- Of all collisions involving another vehicle – four in five cyclists injured by car
- Over half of cyclist injuries occurred at junctions
- 1,056 cyclists injured in collisions in 2018
“Today’s research reveals the majority of collisions involved a cyclist and a vehicle, and we know when a cyclist and car collide, the cyclist always comes out worst,” said Moyagh Murdock, CEO of the Road Safety Authority.
Murdock says Ireland is lagging behind many other European counterparts in introducing dedicated cycle tracks.
“We need separate infrastructure for vehicles and bicycles that remove danger points from our roads and reduce conflict between road users,” she added.
While the study revealed that cycling injuries increased from 211 in 2006 to 1,056 in 2018, the RSA has urged caution with the data stating that the increase was due to a rise in the popularity of cycling and in part due to new reporting mechanisms, introduced in 2014, which have enabled the collection of more detailed data on injury collisions.
