According to a recent Irish Times article by Carl O’Brien, middle-aged and younger men account for most cycling fatalities in recent years.
The article states that increasing popularity of cycling is coming at a cost, with a rise in people killed and injured on Irish roads in recent years.
While cyclists make up about 2 per cent of traffic on Irish roads, they account for up to 8 per cent of injuries, latest official figures show.
Complaints to the Road Safety Authority included many about speed limit signs and speeding on rural roads.
About 2 per cent of the population cycle to work or school each day.High death and injury rates among cyclists alarm road safety campaigners
All societies will benefit from improved walking and cycling access, and more efficient public transport – in conjunction with inevitable car use.
Mainly middle-aged and younger men have died or been injured in recent years, in line with the fact that men account for the majority of cyclists in Ireland (75 per cent).
While the number dying on the road has been on the rise in recent years, it has varied significantly from year to year.
Last year 12 cyclists were killed, more than double the number in the previous year.
Provisional figures indicate the trend is continuing in 2015, with at least five cycling-related deaths in the first half of the year, according to traffic-enforcement sources.
Cycling has grown in popularity over recent years, with a 10 per cent rise in people cycling to work or school, according to the Central Statistics Office.
Of the cycling fatalities last year, most involved another vehicle. Half of last year’s fatal collisions involved a car, while a third involved a truck, van or bus.
In two cases, no other vehicle was involved.
A detailed analysis by the Road Safety Authority indicates people are most likely to be injured during morning and evening rush-hours.
In its analysis of cyclists who were injured in collisions during 2012, almost half occurred at junctions, with T-junctions being a particular hazard.
Among the most dangerous manoeuvres taken by drivers who hit cyclists included right turns, followed by left turns.
These alone accounted for four out of 10 injuries to cyclists in 2012″.
We would agree with this trend, having acted in an increasing number of cases for cyclists who have been injured on our roads.
Some of the injuries suffered have been significant and in some cases life changing.
In these more serious cases it is important to ensure that if a claim is brought the full future care package requirements are recovered.