Sir, – It’s often suggested that cycling in Ireland is not very popular because of bad weather or too many hills. This is not true. The primary reason is encapsulated in your shocking report of a cyclist being run over by a driver making an illegal right turn (“Driver who ran over cyclist gets suspended sentence”, Home News, May 7th).
It would appear that the collision occurred in broad daylight, with the cyclist “protected” by high-viz clothing and a helmet, so clearly visible.
His harrowing testimony of the event and his subsequent slow recovery will resonate with anyone considering taking a bike out on our roads.
What will resonate more forcefully, however, is the charge of careless driving that was accepted by the court, after the prosecution agreed to drop a charge of dangerous driving.
RM Block
The penalties imposed bear absolutely no relation to the appalling consequences for the victim. This is a regular and worrying occurrence in our courts, sending a message to drivers that bad driving is acceptable.
Where someone is seriously injured or killed by a vehicle, the actions of the driver involved are clearly dangerous, not careless.
Until the Garda, prosecutors and judges recognise this, our roads will remain off limits to many unprotected road users, and deaths and injuries on our roads will continue to rise. – Yours, etc,
PAUL WALDRON,
Ballinteer,
Dublin 16.
