Kildare County Council Urges Pedestrians to Stay Safe this Bank Holiday Weekend
Shining a light on pedestrian visibility in Kildare
26th October 2023: As the clocks go back an hour this bank holiday weekend, Kildare County Council is appealing to pedestrians to be more visible to others while using the road. This time of year, we experience dark mornings and longer dark evenings, which bring additional hazards to road users.
A simple garment such as a high visibility vest or an armband could be a lifesaver when it comes to making yourself visible on the roads. The main purpose of a high-viz vest is to make the wearer stand out from the background so they can be seen more easily, particularly by drivers or other road users. Hi-viz vests are effective in any light or weather conditions.
Cyclists are also urged to be clearly visible to road users by wearing high visibility clothing such as hi-viz vests and reflective armbands in addition to the front and rear lights on their bike.
Analysis released from the RSA reports that 43 pedestrians were killed on Irish Roads in 2022. Of the 43 pedestrians killed, 15 occurred between 4pm and 8pm, and 8 between midnight and 4am. Last year, 10 pedestrian fatalities occurred in the month of November.
Initial figures from An Garda Síochána show there have been 38 pedestrian deaths on Irish roads so far this year. The highest in 15 years.
Kildare County Council’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh said: “Wearing a hi-viz vest not only greatly increases your visibility, but it is also a lifesaver. Many of us walk the roads for exercise or leisure, or even just on the way to and from work or school, and with the limited daylight hours from November, we all need to ensure we are making ourselves as safe and as visible as possible, and a simple thing as a hi-viz vest is the ideal solution.”
As the winter months bring harsher weather conditions and less daylight, Kildare County Council are asking all road users to be safe and to be seen.
