Dublin Gardaí, supported by the RSA and partner stakeholders will run a second red light running safety initiative this October/ November as part of the "Safer Roads for Dublin” campaign, with the sole aim of reducing the number and severity of road traffic collisions. October and November are traditionally high risk periods on Dublin roads.
• Red light running campaign launched for the Dublin Region
• 1,620 sets of traffic lights throughout the city
• Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians targeted
• St. Columba’s Primary School safety initiative praised
There are 1,620 sets of traffic lights in the Dublin region across all four local authorities and every day, road users put themselves at great risk by driving, cycling or crossing through red lights. It may appear a minor traffic infringement, however the potential for harm is very great when for example, a car encounters a cyclist where one of them has broken the red light.
The campaign is however not only aimed at drivers. It is also aimed at cyclists and pedestrians and uses a mix of education and enforcement in an effort to change road user behaviour and make the roads safer.
Everyone has a part to play in road safety, and even small actions can lead to big changes on our roods. The pupils of St. Columba’s Primary School on North Strand are so concerned about red light running that they have created their own postcard safety messages, an initiative which An Garda Síochána and all partner stakeholders are proud to support.
Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid, head of Dublin’s Traffic Corps, said at the launch today:
"We are aiming this red light running campaign at all drivers, cyclists and pedestrians and appealing to them to reduce the risk to themselves and others by simply obeying the rules of the road when the traffic light is red. It seems a simple ask, and maybe a lesser offence, but when you consider there are 1,620 sets of traffic lights in Dublin, even one breach each day equals 1,620 potential collisions. Heed the message we are sending out today - Don’t gamble with your safety - red means stop for all!”
Chief Superintendent Reid continued:
"This campaign is all about reducing risks. Risks cause injury and fatalities on our roads. This year has seen 12 road deaths in Dublin, one more than in 2015 so we must re-double our efforts to ensure this does not increase further. A special word of thanks goes out to St Columba’s primary school for their contribution to road safety. It is initiatives like these that make a difference. So, like St Columba’s, we appeal to every road user to play their part to keep Dublin’s roads as safe as possible for all who use them.”
Notes:
The Safer Roads for Dublin initiative is supported by the RSA, Dublin Bus, LUAS, TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland), National Transport Authority and all four Local Authorities.
To date, there have been 12 fatalities in the Dublin Region, one more than in 2015.
To date in 2016 there have been 1,296 detections for breaking a red light (motor vehicle), and 154 detections for cycling past a red traffic light (correct as of 6th October 2016)
Photographs of the launch are available on the Garda Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/angardasiochana/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10154256629713001
