Mastodawn

What ridiculous victim blaming bollocks. Mandatory helmet laws have been proven to increase heart disease and deaths related to it far beyond the "lives saved" by the stupid plastic hats.

Ireland, don't be stupid.

https://mastodon.ie/@ccferrie/116014600144830998

Ciarán Ferrie (@[email protected])

I am gobsmacked by the stupidity of this government. Mandatory hi viz and helmets for ALL bike users is a failed policy that shouldn't even be in the Department of Transport's waste paper bin, never mind at the cabinet table. https://irishcycle.com/2026/02/04/all-bicycles-included-in-draft-plan-for-mandatory-helmets-and-high-vis-department-confirms/

mastodon.ie

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wiredfool

@quixoticgeek
High Vis is already being used as a get-out-of-jail-free card in incidents -- even through it's not mandatatory. Sorry Mate I didn't See You just means that there's no consequences when a cyclist gets creamed by a driver.

This is not for safety. This is for reduction of liability for car drivers.

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wiredfool Feb 5

@quixoticgeek @ccferrie

If they're worried about safety, there are long list of things that have actual research and current laws behind them:
* Default 30kph in built up areas -- Abandoned
* Working lights/safety equipment for cars. 50% of cars fail the NCT the first time through (2024 data), and observationally, 5-10% of cars in my area have obviously broken lighting.
* Close pass laws for cyclists exist. They are unenforced.
* Parking in cycle lanes is prohibited. Unenforced

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wiredfool Feb 5

@quixoticgeek @ccferrie
* Parking on the footpaths, over double yellow lines, forcing pedestrians to share space with distracted drivers. Unenforced. (and ironically, a hotspot is right in front of the local Driver Theory Test center)
* Use of cellphones while driving. The things you see while riding the bus in traffic.
* RSA should provide collision data to local authorities so that they can address accident hotspots. -- Suspended for a decade.

I could continue. At length.