The 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.
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.
Vigilance
A spokesman for the Road Safety Authority said the figures showed the need for vigilance on the part of both cyclists and motorists, especially at junctions.
“Motorists should also pay greater attention to their speed, particularly in urban areas, as four out of five drivers are breaking the speed limit in these zones,” the spokesman said.
The authority’s chairwoman has warned of a “war” between militant cyclists and motorists on the road and pledged to promote sharing of road space.
Damien O'Tuama, national cycling coordinator with the Cyclist.ie campaign group, played down any notion of militancy and said many cyclists were motorists, and vice versa.
He said education was needed on both sides and urged greater use of 30km/h speed limits in busy urban areas. He also wants a law stipulating a 1.5 metre clearance for drivers overtaking cyclists.
