Cyclist Banned from driving for ‘breaking a red light’!
A cyclist who broke a red light and seriously injured himself when colliding with a car a car has been banned from driving a car for a year.
This unusual case highlights the obligations of cyclist as road users.
The case which was heard in a Dublin District Court has surprised many commentators as convictions of this nature & bans are somewhat rare.
The law allows convictions to be endorsed on licenses & and driving bans imposed.
If an ‘offender’ does not have a current driving license the conviction may be endorsed on a subsequent license if one is applied for.
So it is cause for reflection for any cyclist ‘runs a light’ or ignores any other rule of the road as they could face a driving ban!
Cycle safely
Paul Tracey
Solicitor & Cyclist!
Comments
2 Comments on Cyclist Banned from driving for ‘breaking a red light’!
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Smith on
Tue, 12th Oct 2010 10:42 am
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Aidan Ryan on
Mon, 28th Mar 2011 10:51 am
Mostly cyclist did not follow any traffic rules. I think its a good idea to stop road traffic accidents.
(Traffic Accident Claims)
I have nt heard of a driver being banned n the same situation. It is usually just for drink driving.
Cyclists are vulnerable road users. Their transgressions only endanger themselves, rarely other road users.
Many traffic rules endanger cyclists.This is because they are made for motor vehicles and they dont consider cyclists separately. It is far safer for a cyclist to go ahead of the traffic and filter left at a red light than to take the left turn with the motor traffic. Compliant cyclists have been killed in Dublin by left turning traffic.
The RAC in the U K has recommended that cyclists be allowed to turn left on a red light. Experiments are taking place in some other European cities.
Instead of criticizing cyclist we need to look at their needs and see how we can improve road design and engineering (there are some awful wastes of money out there called cycling lanes that are more dangerous than the road) and how we can modify the rules of the road to protect cyclists.
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