Drivers breaking red lights in Cork town prompts calls for road safety campaign

Irish Examiner

9 hours ago

Pedestrians in Co Cork's biggest town are having their lives put at risk by drivers who are repeatedly jumping red lights, especially during morning rush-hour.
The situation in Carrigaline and similar incidents in other towns has prompted Cork County Council to write to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) asking it to mount a targeted campaign on driver/pedestrian safety, particularly at pedestrian crossings.
The issue was raised at a meeting in County Hall by Carrigaline-based Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Donovan, who said it has become a frequent occurrence that drivers are breaking red lights and that pedestrians are also taking chances.
In August 2023, André Ladeiro, aged eight, was knocked down and killed while crossing with the green light in his favour, at a pedestrian crossing in Carrigaline.
A 62-year-old Macroom man was subsequently sentenced to three years with the third year suspended after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
'I regularly speak to local gardaí about cars breaking red lights and I thank them for the patrols they have set up locally in Carrigaline, but realistically there is only so much they can do and it comes back to driver behaviour,' Mr Donovan said.
He said the RSA has a proven track record in the delivery of effective and thought-provoking campaigns and he would like to see what they could do to raise awareness on this issue.
Mr Donovan added that pedestrian crossings are not uniform and he would like to see all of them with raised crossing tables incorporated.
'You simply won't pick up speed if you see a raised table.
"Raised tables have the effect of slowing cars down, which in turn makes drivers more aware of their surrounding,' he added.
Fine Gael councillor Una McCarthy, who also represents the Carrigaline area, said a child was recently injured there trying to cross the road.
'I have spoken to local gardaí and they say the worst is the morning rush-hour with drivers breaking amber and red lights.
"Education saves lives and a campaign is needed,' she said.
Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern said every municipal district area is experiencing such problems, including her region of East Cork.
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Looney added that electric cars also pose a danger to pedestrians and they cannot hear them coming.
Independent councillor Mary Linehan-Foley said residents in nearly every housing estate in the East Cork region are looking for speed ramps to slow down cars.
'We need more education in our schools to target young people before they get behind the wheel.
"We need to do anything we can to prevent the carnage on our roads,' she said.
North Cork-based Fianna Fail councillor Frank O'Flynn described rogue motorists and pedestrians breaking lights at pedestrian crossings as 'amber gamblers".
He suggested, which was agreed by all councillors, that they also write to the minister for transport, Darragh O'Brien, urging him to mount TV commercials and billboard campaigns to highlight the dangers.