Menu
15/06/2015
RSA And Gardaí Launch 'Blind Spot' Safety Campaign
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána have launched a new safety campaign aimed at cyclists and HGV drivers to highlight the issue of 'blind spots'.
Launched today, the campaign targeting cyclists and truck drivers aims to highlight the existence of the 'Blind Spots' around trucks.
Due to their size and design, a truck has significant blind spots that present a danger to vulnerable road users. A driver's field of vision, within a cab, is limited; the area immediately in front, behind and to the left of the vehicle is often hidden from view and cyclists and pedestrians are at an increased risk of being struck.
In Ireland's urban areas, between 2007 and May 2015, 54 Vulnerable Road Users (cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists) were killed in collisions involving trucks. Collisions involving trucks accounted for 20% of urban VRU fatalities.
Commenting on the new campaign, Paschal Donohoe TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, said: "A blind spot is an area around a vehicle not visible to the driver and there are many on a truck which pose added risks for both cyclists and pedestrians.
"Sadly, this issue has directly led to a number of fatal and serious injury collisions. Ireland has taken progressive steps to improve the indirect vision of a truck driver by requiring the fitment of additional mirrors on the cab since 2010 which has halved the number of deaths linked to the blind spot issue.
"However, it hasn't eliminated casualties, therefore I really welcome this new campaign, which will help to raise greater awareness of the issue among cyclists and truck drivers."
According to Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority, the message is simple: "If you cannot see the driver, the driver cannot see you. Cyclists need to be aware of the existence of the 'Danger Zone' on trucks and should never ride along the kerb side of a truck, especially if it's turning left.
"Truck drivers too need to be aware of the fact that the mirrors on their cab will not always give them a total view of any cyclists that may be riding alongside or behind the vehicle. So drivers should lookout for cyclists at junctions and especially when turning left."
(MH/JP)
Launched today, the campaign targeting cyclists and truck drivers aims to highlight the existence of the 'Blind Spots' around trucks.
Due to their size and design, a truck has significant blind spots that present a danger to vulnerable road users. A driver's field of vision, within a cab, is limited; the area immediately in front, behind and to the left of the vehicle is often hidden from view and cyclists and pedestrians are at an increased risk of being struck.
In Ireland's urban areas, between 2007 and May 2015, 54 Vulnerable Road Users (cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists) were killed in collisions involving trucks. Collisions involving trucks accounted for 20% of urban VRU fatalities.
Commenting on the new campaign, Paschal Donohoe TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, said: "A blind spot is an area around a vehicle not visible to the driver and there are many on a truck which pose added risks for both cyclists and pedestrians.
"Sadly, this issue has directly led to a number of fatal and serious injury collisions. Ireland has taken progressive steps to improve the indirect vision of a truck driver by requiring the fitment of additional mirrors on the cab since 2010 which has halved the number of deaths linked to the blind spot issue.
"However, it hasn't eliminated casualties, therefore I really welcome this new campaign, which will help to raise greater awareness of the issue among cyclists and truck drivers."
According to Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority, the message is simple: "If you cannot see the driver, the driver cannot see you. Cyclists need to be aware of the existence of the 'Danger Zone' on trucks and should never ride along the kerb side of a truck, especially if it's turning left.
"Truck drivers too need to be aware of the fact that the mirrors on their cab will not always give them a total view of any cyclists that may be riding alongside or behind the vehicle. So drivers should lookout for cyclists at junctions and especially when turning left."
(MH/JP)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
24 April 2012
Truck Driver Sentenced To Five Years For Importing Cannabis
A Monaghan truck driver has been jailed for five years for importing €600,000 worth of cannabis into the State. 27-year-old David Mathews was observed by gardaí driving his truck off a ferry at Dublin Port and on to his home in Monaghan. There he met two men from Northern Ireland who then transported the cannabis into the north.
Truck Driver Sentenced To Five Years For Importing Cannabis
A Monaghan truck driver has been jailed for five years for importing €600,000 worth of cannabis into the State. 27-year-old David Mathews was observed by gardaí driving his truck off a ferry at Dublin Port and on to his home in Monaghan. There he met two men from Northern Ireland who then transported the cannabis into the north.
14 August 2012
Lorry Slips Off Pier Into Sea
A truck carrying materials for an island house owned by Daniel O’Donnell’s wife Majella slipped off a pier into the sea yesterday. It slid into the water off Owey Island pier, Co Donegal, when carrying tiles and other materials for the house. No injuries were reported and it is understood there may be a bid to salvage the truck at low tide today.
Lorry Slips Off Pier Into Sea
A truck carrying materials for an island house owned by Daniel O’Donnell’s wife Majella slipped off a pier into the sea yesterday. It slid into the water off Owey Island pier, Co Donegal, when carrying tiles and other materials for the house. No injuries were reported and it is understood there may be a bid to salvage the truck at low tide today.
08 February 2019
Man Killed In Wexford Crash
A man his died this morning, 08 February, in a two-vehicle crash in County Wexford. A van and a truck collided at around 7.25am at Ballymackesy, approximately four miles from Enniscorthy. The van driver, a man in his 50's, was fatally injured and removed to University Hospital Wexford for a post-mortem. The truck driver escaped unharmed.
Man Killed In Wexford Crash
A man his died this morning, 08 February, in a two-vehicle crash in County Wexford. A van and a truck collided at around 7.25am at Ballymackesy, approximately four miles from Enniscorthy. The van driver, a man in his 50's, was fatally injured and removed to University Hospital Wexford for a post-mortem. The truck driver escaped unharmed.
10 October 2016
Second Woman Dies In Westmeath Road Collision
A second woman has died after she sustained injuries in a road collision in Westmeath. The crash, between two cars and a truck, happened in Hiskinstown at around 3.30pm on Saturday, 08 October. A passenger in one of the cars died at the scene and the driver in one of the vehicles died from her injuries at Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar.
Second Woman Dies In Westmeath Road Collision
A second woman has died after she sustained injuries in a road collision in Westmeath. The crash, between two cars and a truck, happened in Hiskinstown at around 3.30pm on Saturday, 08 October. A passenger in one of the cars died at the scene and the driver in one of the vehicles died from her injuries at Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar.
18 December 2015
Mallow Garda Appeal For Witnesses To Fatal Road Accident
Gardaí on Mallow have appealed for witnesses to a fatal road traffic accident in Kanturk, Co Cork, on Thursday morning. The collision occurred at Glen South, Naan, Kanturk at approximately 11.30am on the Kanturk/Banty to Cork Road and involved a car and a rigid truck. The 78-year-old female driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mallow Garda Appeal For Witnesses To Fatal Road Accident
Gardaí on Mallow have appealed for witnesses to a fatal road traffic accident in Kanturk, Co Cork, on Thursday morning. The collision occurred at Glen South, Naan, Kanturk at approximately 11.30am on the Kanturk/Banty to Cork Road and involved a car and a rigid truck. The 78-year-old female driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene.
-
Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Frequent, often heavy showers of rain, sleet and snow will affect most parts this evening and overnight, but are likely to be most frequent across the northeast. Minimum temperature -1 °C.
