Pictured at the launch of ‘Cycling Safety Video Campaign for Staying Alive at 1.5’ in the County Council Buildings were Annette O’Neill (Director of Services), Frank Burke (Cycling Officer), Eamonn Hore (Director of Services), David Codd (Road Safety Officer), Cllr Malcolm Byrne (Chairman, Wexford County Council), Johnny Gordon (Wexford County Council Cycling Using Group), Phil Skelton (Staying Alive at 1.5), Fran Ronan (Sports Active Wexford). Pic: Jim Campbell

THE FIGHT to make our roads safer for cyclists continued recently as Wexford County Council launched its Cycling Safety Video Campaign 2015.

The videos, heavily supported by the ‘Stayin’ Alive at 1.5’ campaign, run by Wexford man Phil Skelton, were produced by local Wexford media company Highwinds and are narrated by Wexford Ambassador (and former newscaster) Anne Doyle.

Wexford County Council began a cycling safety campaign last year which involved the erection of signage throughout the county bearing the “Stayin’ Alive 1.5” logo requesting motorists to allow 1.5 metres when overtaking, the addition of the “Stayin’ Alive 1.5” logo to Wexford County Council vans and completing a film shoot of cycling safety videos.

The council decided to undertake this cycling safety campaign as between 2013 and 2014, the number of people who lost their lives on Irish roads increased by 240%.

Last year, an extensive study carried out by the American League of Cyclists found that 40% of cyclist fatalities are caused by collisions from the rear.

These can happen when a driver ‘takes a chance’ and skims past a cyclist when there really isn’t sufficient space to do so, only to find another vehicle coming from the opposite direction at the point of overtake.

The council wished to stress that it is important to anticipate hazards that you may not notice when you drive but are very apparent when you cycle, and to recognise people who cycle as real people: someone’s father, mother, uncle, aunt, son or daughter.

Furthermore, it said to not let the actions of a few determine how you may feel about people who ride bicycles as a whole. In taking such attitudes out on the road, the risk of serious injury is far too great.

The council also noted that it is important to stress that cyclists have an equal responsibility and role to play in road safety. One of the videos suggests that cyclists should also consider other road users when using roads that have a “suitable” hard shoulder.

There are four videos in total, and their aims are:

The aims of these 4 videos are: To display the safe overtaking of cyclists with the central message of allowing 1.5 metres; To educate all road users in the safety aspects of overtaking cyclists. It is hoped that these videos will go some way to illustrating key considerations when encountering cyclists on our roads; To foster a mutual understanding and respect when sharing the road.

Frank Burke, Cycling Officer commented: “While we recognise that everyone makes the odd error of judgement on the road, if this error involves a motorist and a cyclist, it will result in a very serious injury or death. If these videos go some way to heightening awareness among all road users and just one life is saved, it will be worth it! One death is one too many, one injury is one too many. “This is the core message that the WCC and the “Stayin’ Alive at 1.5” campaign are delivering through this video campaign and the objective is to get this message to as many people as possible. Greater mutual respect between motorists and cyclists will make the roads a safer place for everyone and this has never been more important as more people take to cycling”.

Wexford County Council wishes to thank all staff that assisted in some way, particularly the staff in Enniscorthy Area Office and the Roads Department.

Anne Doyle was also thanked for her contribution, as well as the Gardaí in Enniscorthy who helped with traffic control on the N11 during the video work.

Thanks also to Phil Skelton of the “Stayin’ Alive 1.5” campaign, Johnny Gordon of the Bike Shop, Aidan Quigley of Loftus Hall, all three of which contribute to the Wexford Co. Co. Biking Review Group (WCCBRG) and a special thanks to all the cyclists who gave of their time in the making of these videos and to the residents who endured the road closure on the R744 during the video shoot. The council paid a final thank you to The Bike Shop, Loftus Hall, Fort Conan Hotel and Hayes Bike Shop for sponsoring the Beat FM WCC Cycling Safety Social Media campaign prizes.

If someone is wondering how they can help, visit Cycling Safety Wexford on YouTube and share the video links with other road users.