Clamp down on ‘unsafe’ rickshaws, say drivers
EIGHT in ten motorists want stronger legislation on rickshaws, a new study by the AA has revealed.
The survey also found that 80% of the 5,000 motorists surveyed have expressed concerns about the dangers posed by rickshaws in our cities.
The research showed half of those surveyed ‘strongly agree’ that stronger legislation is needed in relation to the use of rickshaws. A further 28% somewhat agreed with the statement.
AA director of consumer affairs Conor Faughnan said: ‘The results are quite clear. There is a real fear for personal safety here, not just for the rickshaw driver and passengers, but also for the other road users who are put at risk by unregulated practices.
‘The National Transport Authority are currently looking into the use of these vehicles in Ireland and the message from our findings is that there is clear support for stricter legislation on the matter.’
The AA survey also found that almost 60% of motorists believe that rickshaws present too much of a danger to other road users.
Around 25% of those polled said they strongly agreed that rickshaws pose a risk to other road users, with a further 32% saying they somewhat agreed there is a risk to others.
Despite the concerns motorists expressed in the survey, only around 16% of respondents strongly agree with the banning of rickshaws from our roads.