Cyclist's death prompts lorry safety plea

New restrictions must be placed on heavy goods vehicles to stop cyclists being killed in large numbers, it was claimed today.

There have been five cyclists deaths so far this year, with the latest taking place today when a cyclist was hit by a lorry on the North Wall

The Dublin Cycling Campaign said heavy good vehicles (HGVs) accounted for 78% of cyclist deaths in the city.

“Everybody is sitting back and waiting for the Port Tunnel to open but there are loads of measures they could have put in, in the meantime,” said spokesman David Maher.

“Generally people who cycle in Dublin come from the lowest socio-economic group and nobody could care less.”

He said there was no restriction on HGVs entering the city, no mandatory fitting of additional mirrors and no proper enforcement of speeding by the Gardai.

“HGVs are a particular problem because if you were to pool together drunk drivers, illegal parkers, speeders and everyone else, they’re still insignificant compared to the danger caused to cyclists by HGVs.”

He said there should be an immediate safety summit involving cycling groups, road hauliers, the National Safety Council and the Department of Transport.

The 5.6km Port Tunnel, which is due to open next March, will link Dublin Port to the M50 and remove 20,000 lorries from the city centre every day.

Currently, trucks must travel to and from the Port along the Quays, which has been the location for the highest number of accidents involving cyclists and trucks.

The National Safety Council (NSC) said it viewed the Port Tunnel as the remedy to the problem.

“It will remove the conflict that exists between cyclists and trucks in Dublin city because what you have is a situation where cyclists and trucks are competing for space in a small area,” said spokesman Brian Farrell.

He said the current situation was like a food chain with trucks at the top as the biggest predators and cyclists and pedestrians at the bottom as the most vulnerable.

“The sooner the trucks are out of the city centre and using the Port Tunnel the better.”

According to the NSC, more than 2,000 cyclists were killed or injured between 1998 and 2002, while 13 cyclists were killed last year.

The Irish Road Haulage Association said it had been working very hard to educate its members about the dangers posed to cyclists and to get extra wide mirrors fitted in all trucks.

“We’ve been tireless in our efforts to eliminate the problem. It really troubles us greatly that these things take place on an infrequent basis,” said spokesman Jimmy Quinn.

However, he said the IRHA would not be in favour of a ban on deliveries by trucks in the city centre or limiting the lanes they could use along the quays.

He added that cyclists had to take more responsibility for their own safety by observing the rules of the road.

“It’s a frightening experience to drive a truck in this city. You heart is in your mouth all the time.”