His latest work with his graduate student researcher, Jack Short, involved analysing two data sets containing information on serious injuries happening to cyclists on both our roads and off-road in driveways, gardens, MTB trails, etc. We know from the international research road safety research literature that police forces don’t necessarily record all cases of serious injury happening to cyclists from impacts with vehicles (these are called RTCs) on public roads so that there is considerable under-reporting of serious injuries. Continue reading Prof. Brian Caulfield of TCD researches cycling issues
Tag Archives: Health&Safety
All health & safety issues, inc. diet & lifestyle; also helmets
Cutting speed limits to 30km/h reduces road accidents
Children, older people and deprived communities would benefit most from a change, conference told
Cutting speed limits in urban areas to 30 km/h (20 mph) reduces the number of road accidents and the severity of injuries, according to the Institute of Public Health Ireland (IPHI). Read article
See also 30kph Speed Limits
European Citizen´s Initiative “30kmh – making streets liveable!”
30 km/h (20 mph) limits are an inexpensive and popular way to improve safety, cut pollution and encourage smarter travel choices. They lead to improved traffic flow and less congestion. People can move without fear. And so we want to achieve these benefits for the whole of the European Union. What is our vision? 30 km/h shall become the standard speed limits for villages, towns and cities with local authorities being able to decide on exemptions. Therefore, we will set the agenda for the European Commission. We want the commission to come up with a proposal to introduce 30 km/h speed limits. Read article / sign petition
The race we don’t want to win: Tackling Ireland’s obesity epidemic
Two out of every three adults and one in four children in Ireland are overweight or obese. In addition to the many serious health impacts, obesity also has a significant negative economic impact, costing the Irish state an estimated €1.13 billion in 2009. Continue reading The race we don’t want to win: Tackling Ireland’s obesity epidemic
Commuting by walking or cycling ‘can boost mental wellbeing’
New research on walking and cycling supports NICE recommendations that active travel can help boost mental wellbeing.
Researchers, publishing in the journal Preventive Medicine, found that people who walked or cycled to work benefitted from improved mental wellbeing in comparison with those who travelled by car. Read article
From The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care.
Walking or cycling to work ‘improves well-being’
Switching from driving a car to walking or cycling to work improves our well-being, a study suggests.
Active commuters felt better able to concentrate and under less strain than when travelling by car, University of East Anglia (UEA) researchers said.
Even going by public transport was preferable to driving, data from 18,000 UK commuters over 10 years suggested.
Message sent to Road Safety Authority
Message sent on Wednesday 6 August to Road Safety Authority by Cyclist.ie – The Irish Cycling Advocacy Network in response to RSA press release issued Friday 1 August regarding rise in vulnerable road user fatalities
Michael Rowland (Director of Research)
Brian Farrell (Director for Communications)
Dear Michael and Brian
As a leader of a group of vulnerable road users, who are at all times in traffic (unlike pedestrians, and who generally choose when, where and how they cross our roads) could I plead with the RSA to alter its ‘blame-the victim’ approach to getting its message across. While I commend you for the generally better content and tone of the latest press release issue last Friday the RSA could do more to place the main responsibility on motorised drivers, particularly those who drive large vehicles – buses, coaches, HGVs, SUVs/4x4s.
Let’s be blunt about the fact: it’s the one tonne plus metal projectile with its driver that is the killer and maimer. We know from the international research literature that in the case of cyclists the majority of RTCs take place at junctions. The causal factor is driver miscalculation/error in approx. 90% of those analysed in Europe. Continue reading Message sent to Road Safety Authority
Jersey’s compulsory cycle helmet law: based on emotion, not evidence?
The Channel Island’s politicians insist compulsory bike helmet use for under 14s will improve public health. But the evidence does not seem to be on their side … read article
Transport for London (TfL) reveals London cycle safety plan
Transport for London plans to cut the number of lorries during peak hours and to test equipment on buses to help drivers spot cyclists and pedestrians.
TfL is aiming to cut by 40% the number of people killed or seriously injured on roads by 2020.
Last year 132 people, included 65 pedestrians and 14 cyclists, were killed on London roads. Read article
European Parliament votes for safer HGV/lorry cabs
Members of the European Parliament have voted today in the plenary to support the manufacture of safer lorry cabs under amendments made to Directive 96/53 on the maximum Weights and Dimensions of lorries.
The legislation will allow extra length to be used in the manufacture of lorry cabs as long as they conform to aerodynamic and safer specifications, with a view to this becoming mandatory for all new cabs. Continue reading European Parliament votes for safer HGV/lorry cabs