Irish cyclists are to voice their concerns at an international road-safety conference being organised by the National Safety Council in Dublin today.
Mr David Maher from the Irish Cycling Campaign is to raise issues at the conference such as the dangers heavy goods vehicles pose to cyclists, the failure of the penalty points system and the disregard shown to the need of pedestrians and cyclists.
The conference is titled "Saving Lives on our Roads - Is there a Better Investment?"
According to Mr Maher, the quays, O'Connell Bridge, the junction of High Street and Thomas Street and the Stillorgan dual carriageway are the key danger zones for cyclists around Dublin. He said 75 per cent of cyclist deaths in Dublin were caused by heavy goods vehicles.
"In the past seven years, heavy goods vehicles going to Dublin Port accounted for 16 out of 21 death in the city centre," he said.
He claimed a motorist could expect a speeding ticket every 28 years and to be breathalysed every 140 years.
"What cyclists want is a National Safety Council that listens to their views and is committed to ensuring that our roads are safe for cyclists."
The conference will be opened by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, and will bring together some of the world's leading experts on road safety from countries such as France, Finland, Netherlands, Britain and Australia.
It will also examine the road safety challenges faced at global and European levels as well as looking at Ireland's progress to date and future plans in this context. Engineering, education, enforcement and evaluation will be focussed on and the significant benefits a reduction in deaths and serious injuries brings to the Healthcare will be examined.
The quays, O'Connell Bridge, the junction of High Street and Thomas Street and the Stillorgan dual carriageway have been cited as the key danger zones for cyclists around Dublin.
Heavy goods vehicles pose as a serious threat for cyclists, with 75 per cent of cyclist deaths in Dublin caused by them, according to the campaign.