The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Be seen and be safe this winter
THE Kerry Joint Policing Committee (JPC) 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 JPC 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 cars.
“An Garda Síochána and Kerry County Council and the members of the Kerry JPC 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,” said Kerry Chief Superintendent Con Cadogan.
Chief Supt Cadogan also asked 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 JPC Cllr Niall Kelleher said the aim of the ‘Be Safe and Be Seen’ campaign – which is run by the Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority – is to reduce deaths and accidents on the 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 JPC is encouraging homeowners to ‘Lock Up and Light Up’ their homes over the winter period – when the number of burglaries typically rises due to the longer hours of darkness – to deter burglars and to be more security conscious in general.