There has been a significant increase in the number of people taking up cycling over the past decade — and a corresponding rise in the amount of cyclists being injured on Irish roads.

SPINAL injuries due to road accidents are on the increase again despite a dramatic 50% drop in the first six months of the penalty points system.

THERE has been almost a 20% reduction in the number of road deaths since penalty points were introduced last November, Transport Minister Séamus Brennan said yesterday.

THE number of road accident victims treated at the National Spinal Injuries Unit has dropped by half in the first six months of the penalty points system.