Last Sunday, November 17 was World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims.
In many churches there were prayers for those who have lost their lives or been injured in road accidents. We also prayed for their families and friends.
Since records began in 1959, 24 390 people have been killed on Irish roads.
According to Road Safety Authority figures over 80,000 people have been seriously injured on Irish roads since the recording of serious injuries began in 1977. And so far this year 125 people have been killed on our roads.
Maybe accident is not the correct word to use for the killings and maiming on our roads. Much of it is willful bad behaviour.
Last Thursday week I was cycling along Orwell Park in Dublin heading for the rear entrance to St Luke’s Hospital. It was before 9am and the traffic was bumper-to-bumper. I was cycling between the footpath and the slowly-moving traffic. It was raining. I suddenly noticed a car veering towards me. It meant I had to jump up on the footpath. I looked in the window of the car to see the driver using a mobile phone.
My subsequent reaction was immediate and stern, indeed, so stern that the driver threw the phone on the seat of the car. May they have learned a profound lesson never to use a hand-held phone while driving.
Last Tuesday I was cycling through the junction of Rathgar Road and Highfield Road. I was on the main road but a car, coming from Terenure, simply sailed across the junction on to Highfield Road and came close to knocking me off the bicycle. Not even an apology.
At this stage we have all seen the RSA television ad about giving cyclists plenty of space when cars and trucks are overtaking.
But never a word of how important it is for cyclists to give plenty of room to their fellow ‘pedalers’ when they are overtaking them.
Yes, we are all sadly aware of the car and truck speedsters. But what about the cyclists, who treat the roads like racing tracks? They really are annoying and boring too.
Our road manners leave much to be desired. And the bad manners are not the prerogative of the men.
Is there any point in praying for those who have died on our roads if we constantly and flagrantly misbehave when driving and cycling?
And pedestrians too need to stop walking out in front of vehicles.
Be kind and gentle on the road.
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