Sir, – As usual, the discussion about motorist, cyclist, and pedestrian is descending into a “them” versus “us” argument about who should be more responsible (Letters, November 7th).
We all should be more responsible.
The real cause of most “accidents” is lack of attention by all road users, lack of proper education of all road users and a serious lack of responsibility and thought by a lot of road users as a result of that lack of education.
Most children and adults don’t seem to know how to safely use a pedestrian crossing, walking across without waiting for the traffic to stop.
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Pedestrians often don’t look over their shoulder when crossing at a junction to see if there’s a car about to turn in at that junction and which will flatten them if they step off the kerb.
Many vehicle drivers seem clueless about when or how to use their indicators on roundabouts or junctions, or switching on their dipped headlights in poor road conditions like lack of light, rain or fog.
Cyclists cycling round in the dark with no lights or reflective gear, breaking red lights, cycling against the flow of traffic.
These are examples of very basic failings that could easily be corrected by a thought-out road user education programme diligently taught from early childhood right through to adulthood, teaching all road users about how to use the roads and how to think of other road users.
The psychology of safe driving, cycling and walking on the roads. The “whys”, as well as the “don’ts”.
The Road Safety Authority should really, at this stage, have such a fully developed training course for all road users, which starts by being taught in schools as part of the education curriculum, continues through the new driver phase and perhaps could be tested as a multiple-choice questionnaire every time a driving licence comes up for renewal.
Proper education about the responsibilities of road users won’t prevent every accident from happening, but lack of education about them is surely causing more “accidents” to happen.
Education should also include analysis of real accidents, in a similar way to how aviation does, to bring better understanding of how accidents happen, so that they might be avoided.
Why isn’t there a standardised education course formulated by the Road Safety Authority for all road users, which teaches all different categories how to use the roads safely, whether pedestrian, cyclist, or motorised vehicle, and also helps users understand about the difficulties which the other categories of road user faces, which might lead to a little more considerate and thoughtful behaviour?
The Rules of the Road are a good start, but they need to be expanded upon to talk about the responsibilities of road users to other road users, from an early age, to increase thought and understanding and so hopefully reduce avoidable tragedies in the future.
And of course, more enforcement of the existing rules. – Yours, etc,
DAVID DORAN,
Bagenalstown,
Co Carlow.
Sir, – If only all pedestrians and cyclists would wear hi-vis and light up.
Alas, our most vulnerable road users assume perhaps understandably because they see the lights of oncoming cars that they are also seen.
It’s scary of a dark evening how many cyclists young and not so young take to our roads devoid of lights. – Yours, etc,
AIDAN RODDY,
Cabinteely,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – If I wear a hi-vis jacket, will it prevent me from being knocked down walking out my front gate? Despite there being three cycle paths on the road where I live, cyclists still use the footpaths. – Yours, etc,
JM DUNNE,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.