Sir, - While cycling home across the city last Thursday evening I stopped at six sets of red lights. At every set I saw cars breaking red lights - including 3 consecutive cars at the one pedestrian crossing. This morning I witnessed a van in Pearse Street break a red light and knock a young girl off her bicycle before speeding away, leaving the girl badly shaken and in floods of tears - but thankfully not badly injured.
I would ask if the Garda sees a connection between my two stories. Perhaps there is a link between widespread disregard for the traffic laws and accidents. Perhaps the tolerating of blocked pedestrian crossings before and after traffic lights, as well as illegal parking, and the total absence of speed checks inside the city may be contributing to a climate of lawlessness that is responsible for so many accidents.
The efforts of groups such as the Dublin Cycling Campaign (of which I am a member) to promote cycling as a means of reducing traffic congestion will come to naught if the current lawless situation is allowed to intimidate cyclists off the road.
The simple but sad truth is that the Garda has been hopelessly ineffective in enforcing the traffic laws, with levels of lawlessness unknown of in other Western countries being accepted as the norm here. There is a responsibility of care that is sadly lacking in many of our motorists - for which innocent pedestrians and cyclists pay in inconvenience, injuries and sometimes with their lives. - Yours, etc., David Maher,
Summerfield Rise, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.