A new report by the Road Safety Authority shows that 22 cyclists were injured on Donegal roads over a period of 12 months.
The RSA released a report yesterday showing cyclist injury trends between 2006 and 2018.
Donegal ranked eighth in the country of locations where the most cyclist injuries took place in 2018 with Dublin coming first with 591 injuries.
In Ireland over 1,000 cyclists were injured in 2018 with most of these accidents happening during morning and evening rush hours.
The RSA are calling for greater investment in cycling infrastructure and more speed limits in rural areas.
The RSA have issued the following safety guidelines to keep cyclists safe on the roads.
As a cyclist, you can reduce your risk of death or injury by following some simple advice:
- Never cycle in the dark without adequate lighting – white for front, red for rear
- Always wear luminous clothing such as hi-vis vests, fluorscent armbands and reflective belts so that other road users can see you
- Wear a helmet
- Make sure you keep to the left. Always look behind and give the proper signal before moving off, changing lanes or making a turn
- Follow the rules of the road, never run traffic lights or weave unpredictably in and out of traffic
- Maintain your bike properly – in particular, your brakes should work properly and your tyres should be inflated to the right pressure and be in good condition
- Respect other road users – don’t get into shouting matches with motorists; stop at pedestrian crossings; don’t cycle on the footpath
- Watch your speed, especially when cycling on busy streets and going downhill
- Steer well clear of left-turning trucks: let them turn before you move ahead
