Kerry’s Eye backs 1.5

With the recent fatalities on Kerry’s roads and calls for a Minimum passing distance law it is great to see local newspaper Kerry’s Eye has launched a massive safety campaign aimed at keeping cyclists safe on the county’s roads.

The newspaper has announced June as Stayin’ Alive at 1.5 Month in Kerry – with the full support of Kerry County Council, the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle, local cycling clubs as well as the founder of the national Stayin’ Alive at 1.5 campaign, Phil Skelton.

Stayin’ Alive at 1.5 is a safety campaign highlighting the need for drivers to observe a safe minimum passing distance of 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists, and aims for this minimum passing distance to be written into law.

Kerry’s Eye started the campaign with coverage on page 1, 2 and 3 of this week paper and the campaign will run for the rest of the month of June.  As well as this Kerry County Council began erecting signs promoting the Stayin’ Alive at 1.5 campaign at strategic locations around the county, Kerry’s Eye will also be distributing  car stickers and posters

“The Stayin’ Alive at 1.5 campaign is a vital initiative that will hopefully save lives and make the county’s roads safer for everyone,” said Kerry’s Eye editor, Colin Lacey. “As a cyclist and driver myself, I see how vulnerable cyclists are and how dangerous our roads can be. But as drivers, if we change our behaviour just a little, and adopt the minimum 1.5 metre passing distance, it will help ensure that all road users can safely share the our road space.”

Radio Kerry minimum passing distance bill

There has been a lot of media attention recently regarding the proposed bill by Fine Gael Galway East TD, Ciaran Cannon and Government Chief Whip Regina Doherty which would  see motorists forced to obey a minimum passing distance of 1.5 metres- and one metre in zones with speed limits of under 50 km per hour- when overtaking cyclists.

Radio Kerry invited the Kerry Cycling Campaign on to their Kerry Today show to give the view of cyclists to the proposed bill.

 

 

Kerry backs Stayin’ alive at 1.5

At last months meeting Kerry County Council passed a motion to formally support Staying Alive at 1.5m Campaign, which promotes safe driving for Motorists overtaking cyclists. The motion was proposed by Cllr. J.J. Culloty and seconded by Cllr. J. Sheahan with Cllr. Culloty calling on the Council to request the Road Safety Authority and the Department of Transport to change road traffic legislation to require motorists to give a safe overtaking gap of 1.5m between the vehicle and a cyclist.

Cllr Donal Grady who allocated €1,000 to print safety stickers. Picture: Eamonn Keogan

Cllr. D. Grady allocated €1,000 from his Councillors allocation to print sticker to promote the message can requested that the be used on all council trucks and lorries in Killarney Municipal District.

 

For more information see the Stayin’ alive at 1.5 website.