Kerry Gardaí And Council Urge Road Users To ‘Be Safe And Be Seen’ During Winter Months

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At the launch of the Kerry Joint Policing Committee ‘Be Safe, Be Safe’ campaign on Monday were, from left: Michelle Mullane, Road Safety Officer, Kerry County County Council; Brian Looney, Kerry County Council; John Breen, Director of Services, Kerry County Council; Chief Superintendent Con Cadogan; Cllr Niall Kelleher, Chairman, Kerry Joint Policing Committee; Cllr Pa Daly, Kerry Joint Policing Committee.

THE Kerry Joint Policing Committee is calling on all road users in Kerry to exercise care over the winter months and to ‘Be Safe and Be Seen’ on the county’s roads.

The Committee has encouraged the use of high visibility clothing and is asking all road users to ensure lights are fully functional on their bicycles, motorcycles and vehicles.

Speaking at a meeting of the Kerry Joint Policing Committee today, Chief Superintendent of the Kerry Garda Division, Con Cadogan said: ‘An Garda Síochána and Kerry County Council and the members of the Kerry Joint Policing Committee are asking people to wear high visibility clothing at this time of the year when natural light is reduced. You cannot expect other road-users to see you if you are not visible to them – wearing a high-vis vest can make a life-saving difference.

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‘We would also ask motorists to check their lights are working properly as driving with defective lights is both unacceptable and highly dangerous. A survey by the Road Safety Authority found that eight percent of vehicles had at least one defective light. The message is to get it fixed now for your benefit and the benefit of other road users,’ he said.

Chairman of the Kerry Joint Policing Committee, Cllr Niall Kelleher said the aim of the ‘Be Safe and Be Seen’ campaign – which is run by An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority – is to reduce road deaths and accidents on the county’s roads.

‘Sadly we have had six fatalities so far this year on Kerry roads and we don’t want the horror of such an incident to be visited on any more families. Everyone on the road has a role to play in slowing down, driving with care and ultimately reducing road accidents and deaths,’ said Cllr Kelleher.

Meanwhile, the Kerry Joint Policing Committee is encouraging homeowners to ‘Lock Up and Light Up’ their homes over the winter period to deter burglars. It’s part of a nationwide campaign to encourage homeowners to be more security conscious.

‘Burglaries traditionally rise during the longer winter evenings and nights,’ said Chief Superintendent Cadogan. A number of simple measures can help to deter burglars such as using timers on lights if your home is unoccupied, locking all doors and windows, storing keys away from windows and letterboxes and using home alarm systems,’ he said.

‘There has been a fall in the number of burglaries in the Kerry Division – down 59 percent to date this year compared to the same period last year – which is due to a number of factors included the Garda’s Operation Thor and increased awareness and vigilance in communities. But we want people to continue to be aware of the risks and take the necessary precautions,’ said the Chief Superintendent.

One Comment

  1. Matty O'Leary says:

    An Garda Síochána, ‘Be Safe and Be Seen’ on the county’s roads – are you for real!

    What about the towns public footpaths – pedestrians are encountering cyclists traveling at speed and/or not visible everyday and night of the week?

    An Garda Síochána are regularly allowing motor vehicles park up on the public footpaths even on double yellow lines in the town centre obstructing pedestrians with prams and wheel chair users – pedestrians are expected to get off the foot path onto the road and move around them?

    An Garda Síochána are also allowing motor vehicles park on bike lanes and a turn off traffic lane for example on John Joe Sheehy road outside Aldi – in fact all over Tralee town?
    Maybe this is why the cyclists illegally mount the footpaths in the first place!

    The Kerry Joint Policing Committee should be asking An Garda Síochána why they are not doing their job and enforcing the law themselves?

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