‘Helmets and anti-roll bars will make sulky racing safer’

Sulky drivers should be forced to wear helmets and high-visibility jackets, have their carriages fitted with anti-roll bars, and provide the authorities with an event safety plan prior to obtaining permission to race on public roads.

Additional recommendations by a joint policing committee (JPC) also include introducing legislation to restrict times when road races can be held and require horses to be fitted with nappies similar to those which are used by jarveys in Killarney, Co Kerry.

The suggested rules are contained in a report compiled by the Cork County JPC and were prompted by an infamous sulky race when a large number of Travellers took over the main Cork-Mallow road in May 2012.

At times, they were seen driving a convoy of vehicles four abreast following two sulkies as they raced northwards from the Blarney intersection towards the junction for Ballygibbon.

Despite being pursued by Garda cars which had sirens and flashing lights on, the majority of those involved refused to pull over.

A number of vehicles travelling south were forced to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collision. The race was recorded and went viral when posted on YouTube. Several men later appeared in court in connection with the incident.

Members of the JPC and members the county council’s transportation strategic policy committee said they had identified shortcomings in current national legislation and the local authority’s bylaws. They proposed that these be strengthened through a number of measures.

In particular, they pointed out that many of those in charge of horses are minors and thus currently exempt from criminal liability.

They also said road traffic legislation be made more prescriptive for the regulation of animal-drawn vehicles, vehicle standards, and driver and animal safety.

The committee said specific regulations must be introduced to ensure sulky carriages are well lit and that reflectors could also be used, although they do not specifically state if these should be attached to the horses as well.

In addition, it is proposed that races should not be held when visibility is a problem, be it at night, dawn, or twilight.

It is suggested that, before any new legislation is introduced, consultation should be entered into with representatives of those involved in sulky racing and with communities in areas where such races are traditionally staged.

The report states: “It would also offer an opportunity to impress upon these groups the necessity for regulation and the underlying interest in enhanced road safety and the preservation of lives.”

The JPC recommendations will be forwarded to the Department of Agriculture and Department of Transport.