Sir, – While the Road Safety Authority’s Be Safe Be Seen campaign has had some success and contributed to many pedestrians being more visible at night, it is only part of the solution.
RSA statistics report that in some accidents a failure by the pedestrian to observe is a contributory factor, yet the authority persists with what is a very passive approach to pedestrian and cyclist safety, and also to driving safely.
What is the use of being seen if the driver is too distracted to see you, or is driving too close behind the car in front to see you in time?
The pedestrian has been encouraged by the current slogan to put their safety, health and life in the hands of someone who might or might not see them. Again, RSA statistics point to drivers’ failure to observe as a contributory factor in some accidents.
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While the rules of the road mandate that pedestrians should walk facing the oncoming traffic where there is no footpath, this essential point has received very little attention by the RSA.
Every day we see pedestrians and runners with their backs to the oncoming traffic in hard shoulders and cycle lanes, and often while wearing headphones.
A pedestrian facing the oncoming traffic has some chance of trying to avoid a car that has not seen them, and also of not suddenly moving out in front of a cyclist coming from behind.
It’s time pedestrians and cyclists were encouraged to start practising defensive behaviour on the roads. Being able to see what might hit you is surely the most basic element of road safety.
It’s time to change the Be Safe Be Seen slogan to Be Safe: See and Be Seen.
GORDON BARRETT,
Ballincar, Co Sligo.
