Latest news with #SarahO'Connor
Agriland
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Agriland
RSA issues safety advice as National Bike Week underway
As National Bike Week 2025 rolls into gear, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is urging all motorists to keep a safe distance and reduce speed when overtaking cyclists – not just during Bike Week, but every day of the year. The RSA has stated that cycling is a healthy, sustainable and increasingly popular form of travel for people of all ages. However the RSA added that cyclists remain one of the most vulnerable road users. Over the past five years (2020-2024), 45 cyclists were killed and 1,278 cyclists were seriously injured. The RSA is reminding drivers of their duty to share the road safely. Motorists must allow at least 1m when overtaking cyclists in speed zones up to 50km/h and at least 1.5m in zones over 50km/h. Cyclists can be thrown off course by sudden gusts of wind or by having to swerve around potholes or uneven road surfaces – making these distances a crucial buffer for safety, according to the RSA. Director of partnerships and external affairs with RSA, Sarah O'Connor said: 'Cycling should be a fun and safe activity, whether for commuting, school, or leisure. 'But too often, we see lives changed or lost in preventable collisions. Drivers must slow down, check their mirrors and blind spots, and give cyclists the space they need. It's not just about rules, it's about respect and responsibility on the road.' Motorists are also reminded to take extra care at junctions, especially when making left turns, and to check carefully for cyclists before opening car doors. At the same time, the RSA is calling on cyclists to take personal responsibility for their own safety and that of others. This includes ensuring their bikes are roadworthy, wearing high-visibility clothing, and using lights and reflectors. Wearing a cycle helmet can reduce the risk of head, neck and facial injuries by 33%, the RSA has said. Riders are encouraged to seek advice from bike shops to find a helmet that fits properly and to replace it after any impact. Bike Week 2025 runs from Saturday, May 10 to Sunday, May 18 with Bike to Work Day taking place on Wednesday, May 14. The week-long celebration features community rides, safety workshops, school events and more, organised nationwide by local authorities, cycling clubs and community groups.
Irish Times
03-05-2025
- Irish Times
PSNI appeals for witnesses as motorcyclist in critical condition after Derry collision
A motorcyclist is in critical condition after he was involved in a collision with a van in Co Derry , the PSNI has said. Police are appealing for information and witnesses following the crash in Dungiven. The incident happened shortly before 3pm on Friday in the Legavallon Road area. A PSNI inspector said: 'Officers attended, alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Northern Ireland Air Ambulance. READ MORE 'One man was taken to hospital for treatment. He remains in a critical condition at this time. 'We would ask anyone who was travelling in the area to review dash-cam footage or any other relevant footage they may have captured and call us on 101 with any information.' A report can be made using the online reporting form or information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at It comes as the Road Safety Authority (RSA) in the Republic urged all road users to take heightened precautions with the onset of longer evenings and warmer weather. More than 90,000 motorcycling enthusiasts are meanwhile expected to attend the North West 200 motorbike road racing event across Northern Ireland starting on Monday, May 5th. This year has already seen a rise in motorcyclist deaths in the Republic. Ten motorcyclists have lost their lives on roads south of the Border up to April 27th. That's an increase from seven fatalities during the same period in 2024 and four during the same period in 2023, the RSA added. 'We are urging motorcyclists to take every possible precaution, including to ride within speed limits and at a speed appropriate for the road and conditions, as well as anticipating the actions of others,' said Sarah O'Connor, director of partnerships & external affairs at the RSA. 'We encourage both motorists and motorcyclists to take time to look carefully, assess the road ahead, and anticipate potential hazards and other road users – that extra time, that extra look could be the difference between life or death.' Additional reporting: PA
Irish Independent
02-05-2025
- Irish Independent
‘Do not let a stupid driving decision change your future - some countries may not let you in with a conviction'
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has launched a new campaign confronting the issue of drug-driving in Ireland which puts a spotlight on the serious and life-altering consequences of driving under the influence of drugs – including the loss of employment, restrictions on international travel, and the impact on personal relationships. The launch coincides with the May Bank Holiday Road Safety Appeal and gardaí will be stepping up roadside enforcement nationwide during this bank holiday weekend. Sarah O'Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs at the RSA, is warning people not to drive under the influence of drugs, as users could lose more than their licence. 'What would it feel like if you couldn't drive your daughter to school? "What would it feel like if your mum and dad were very ashamed and embarrassed of what you had done and were very disappointed in you as a person? Or additionally, what are the real ramifications in terms of sentencing your future travel plans and potentially losing your licence or other ramifications? 'If you plan to go abroad, a number of key countries that Irish people, particularly young people, really want to go to. They view it as their life plan in their 20s and in their 30s to go to Australia, to Canada, America, all of those, you may be quite hampered if you have a drug driving conflict. 'If you are planning on travelling to America, Australia or Canada and you have a drug driving conviction, you may face additional hurdles to be able to travel to that country or you may not be able to travel at all. 'In addition, China, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates also consider a drug driving condition to be phenomenally serious if you're applying for a visa, if you want to travel there, or if you want to work there. Those are on the wish list for a lot of young people. 'Do not let a stupid decision around drugs and driving change your future. Do not allow it to have you sitting at home missing out on the fun with your friends.' When asked if cyclists could also be stopped by gardaí this weekend, Paula Hilman, Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement at An Garda Síochána, said that 'the simple answer is yes.' 'The regular cyclist is a very vulnerable category because they have no protection and the cyclists must adhere to the rules of the road, just like a car or a lorry. 'If a cyclist is going through a red light, that is not only causing a danger to themselves but to other people using the roads. So yes, is the simple answer to that. 'Already this year, since January we have arrested over 800 people for driving under the influence of drugs at the roadside. Approximately half of those are under the age of 30. 'I cannot emphasise enough that the danger that you're putting yourself in, the danger you're putting on the road users in; it totally affects your ability to drive safely on our roads. The risk you're taking is not worth it. 'You do not want to be responsible for injuring yourself, perhaps killing another person because you took that chance of driving whilst under the influence of drugs. 'Taking illegal drugs is an offence to start off with, then when you have the audacity to get in behind the wheel of a car and drive, it's absolute madness.' This weekend, gardaí will be out in force all around the country. 'You'll see high visibility. There will be checkpoints, there will be mandatory intoxicant checkpoints where drivers will be pulled over and tested randomly for both alcohol and drugs,' Hilman added. 'We're also policing in a different style. We have unmarked vehicles. It's not just a case of being visible, it's about changing driver behaviour. 'People have to understand that the vehicle in front or behind you may be a guarded vehicle.'
Irish Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Daily Mirror
Motorcyclist rushed to hospital with serious injuries after horror crash
A motorcyclist was rushed to hospital with serious injuries following a road traffic collision in Co Carlow. The two-vehicle crash involving a car and a motorbike occurred on the L3044 Carlow to Bagenalstown Road at Harrow Cross on at approximately 1pm on Friday (April 25). Gardai and emergency services were called to the scene and the male motorcyclist was take to St. Luke's General Hospital to be treated for serious injuries. The road between the Harrow Cross and Rathwade was closed for a time on Friday to allow for an examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and local diversions were put in place. Gardai say that investigations into the collision are ongoing. This year has seen a rise in motorcyclist deaths, according to the latest figures from the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Already in 2025, 10 motorcyclists have lost their lives on Irish roads, an increase from seven fatalities during the same period (January 1 – April 27) in 2024 and four fatalities during the same period in 2023. New research from the RSA analysed hospital data from 2019 to 2023, which found that 1,556 motorcyclists were hospitalised following road traffic collisions. Of these, almost a third sustained clinically serious injuries, which have a higher probability of long-term consequences for the casualty after the collision. As longer evenings and warmer weather signal the start of the peak motorcycling season, the RSA is urging all road users to take heightened precautions. 'We are urging motorcyclists to take every possible precaution, including to ride within speed limits and at a speed appropriate for the road and conditions, as well as anticipating the actions of others,' said Sarah O'Connor, Director of Partnerships & External Affairs at the Road Safety Authority. "We encourage both motorists and motorcyclists to take time to look carefully, assess the road ahead, and anticipate potential hazards and other road users — that extra time, that extra look could be the difference between life or death. 'Drivers need to be aware of motorcyclists, especially at junctions and in areas of high traffic flow. This is of particular importance over the summer months and weekends, when the risk of motorcycle fatalities and injury is heightened.'
