More cyclists get fined than motorists for cycling related offences
Back in October IrishCycle.com reported on the results of the first two months since cycling fines were introduced -
People using bicycles have been fined 244 times in first two months of on-the-spot fines or “Fixed Charge Notices” for cycling related offenses. Out of the 244 caught and fined: 144 were fined for proceeding past traffic lights / cycle traffic lights when the red lamp is illuminated; 44 were fined for no front lamp or rear lamp lit during lighting-up hours on a pedal cycle; 37 were caught for “driving a pedal cycle without reasonable consideration”; and 19 were fined for proceeding into a pedestrianised street or area (which should not include footpaths).
The fined were issued between July 31 up to the end of September.
Out of curiosity Cyclist.ie requested Tommy Broughan TD to ask the following Parliamentary Question (PQ) -
Tuesday, 3 November 2015
Department of Justice and Equality Road Traffic Offences
Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
no. 593. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fixed charge notices issued to drivers between 31 July 2015 and 30 September 2015, for parking in a cycle track during its period of operation; for invading an advance stop line by failing to bring a vehicle to a stop behind a primary stop line; and for dangerous overtaking of a cyclist, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38159/15]
On Tuesday 15 December 2015, the requested the statistics from the Garda authorities were provided by Frances Fitzgerald (Minister, Department of Justice and Equality; Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) -
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the attached table provides the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued to drivers for the offences requested by the Deputy for the period 31 July to 30 September 2015.
Number of Fixed Charge Notices issued for the offences listed for the period 30 July 2015 to 30 September 2015 Parking in a cycle track during its period of operation (Contravention of requirement to remove vehicle parked on cycle track (RRM022 or 023) after commencement of period indicated on information plate contrary to Section 35(5) of the Road Traffic Act, 1994). 112
Invading an Advance Stop Line by failing to bring vehicle to a stop behind a primary stop-line (Failure to stop in advance of traffic sign number RRM 017(Stop Line), contrary to Section 35(5) of the Road Traffic Act, 1994). 16
Failure to stop in advance of Traffic Sign (Failure to stop in advance of traffic sign for number RRM 017 (stop line) where traffic sign number RUS 027(stop sign) was also provided contrary to Section 35(5) of the Road Traffic Act, 1994). 60
Dangerous Overtaking (Overtaking another vehicle in a manner which would endanger or cause inconvenience to any other person contrary to Section 35(5) of the Road Traffic Act, 1994). 20
Please note that it is not possible to provided a breakdown between overtaking pedal cyclists and mechanically propelled vehicles, therefore the figure provided relates to all manners of dangerous overtaking.
This figures are provisional, operational and subject to change.
Leaving out the last figure due to its ambiguous nature, that’s 188 fixed charge notices that were issued to motorists for cycling related offences for the same two month period that 244 cyclists received equivalent fines. Note these are national figures for the whole country.
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