Letters

Cyclists and dangerous junctions

The letter and spirit of the Rules of the Road

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott

The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.

Wed May 15 2024 - 00:10

A chara, – Further to the letter on the rules of the road of May 14th, I would like to point out some relevant sentences in the Rules of the Road relating to treating other road users with care:

“When turning left, all drivers, especially drivers of heavy goods vehicles, must watch out for cyclists and motorcyclists going ahead or turning” (Page 53).

“On left turns, watch out for cyclists and mopeds close to the kerb in front of you or coming up on your left. Do not overtake a cyclist as you approach a junction if you are turning left, as the cyclist might be continuing straight ahead” (Page 54).

“You must give way to traffic already in the lane into which you are moving . . . Remember: signalling does not give you the right of way” (Page 55).

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This last sentence is highlighted in a large yellow box and the word “Remember” is written in red capital letters. – Is mise,

SIOBHÁN McNAMARA,

Dublin 12.

Sir, – A letter writer queries why should motorists turning left yield to cyclists proceeding straight because he believes that the Rules of the Road in this instance favour the motorist. If I cycled (or even drove) on the basis that all other motorists would obey the Rules of the Road, I would be dead several times over. The purpose of the Rules of the Road are clearly noted on the first line. They are there “to save lives and prevent injury on our roads”. Specifically, in relation to this situation they note: “When turning left, all drivers, especially drivers of heavy goods vehicles, must watch out for cyclists and motorcyclists going ahead or turning.” – Yours, etc,

ROBERT LAIRD,

Dublin 7.

A chara, – Yesterday, I was cycling into Dublin city along the Crumlin road. As I reached the entrance to Crumlin shopping centre, a car came from behind me and turned into the car park.

I had to brake hard to avoid hitting the side of the car.

I was not overtaking a left-turning vehicle – the driver may have “signalled an intention to turn left” but if they did so, they were behind me where I could not have seen them. This manoeuvre is common enough to have a name, the “left hook”.

I am well aware that some cyclists do not follow the Rules of the Road. I am not aware of any cyclists killing drivers by crashing into them at junctions.

All too many cyclists and pedestrians have been killed by drivers failing to pay due care and attention to their surroundings, failing to obey speed limits and traffic signals, and failing to understand their responsibility on the road. – Is mise,

RAY CUNNINGHAM,

Walkinstown,

Dublin 12.

Sir, – A letter writer rightly states “that a cyclist may not overtake a vehicle on the left once it “has signalled an intention to turn left and there is a reasonable expectation that the vehicle ... will execute a movement to the left before the cycle overtakes the vehicle”.

Unfortunately he makes this statement because he appears to believe that accidents involving cyclists at dangerous junctions are caused by cyclists overtaking (undertaking) a left-turning car.

In my experience, the opposite is the case.

Many motorists, when turning left, accelerate to pass a cyclist who is ahead of them coming up to the turn.

Frequently the motorists fails to correctly judge the distance and as a consequence ends up cutting across the unsuspecting cyclist.

In other cases, the inability of a left-turning vehicle to actually indicate their intention can often contribute to junctions being a danger for cyclists. – Yours, etc,

SEAN KEAVNEY,

Castleknock,

Dublin 15.

Sir, – Cyclists are helping to alleviate congestion which eases the flow of traffic for motorists. It should be a prerequisite that drivers are forced to navigate Dublin and Irish roads by bike before being issued with a licence.

They might then understand the courage it takes to cycle Irish roads, and perhaps even develop some consideration for their fellow road users. – Yours, etc,

NATASHA BROWNE,

Dublin 9.

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