High-vis 'Can You See Me Now?' campaign to improve road safety
AN Garda Síochána has launched ‘Can You See Me Now?’, a nationwide road-safety campaign designed to draw urgent attention to the critical importance of visibility on Irish roads, particularly for vulnerable road users including pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter drivers and motorcyclists.
Beginning yesterday (Wednesday) all national and divisional garda social media channels have turned neon yellow. The 48-hour digital takeover - of profile photos, cover images and social banners - creates a striking visual interruption intended to stop the public in their tracks and prompt the question: "Why is everything garda-related suddenly high-vis?” Now, the reason becomes clear.
Road safety remains one of the most urgent challenges facing Ireland. Up to November 25, some 37 pedestrians and two e-scooter drivers/passengers have been killed on our roads. Among them, our oldest citizens are particularly vulnerable, with seven fatalities in the over-81 age group. Many fatal incidents occurred on weekend afternoons and evenings.
Motorcyclists face a similarly stark situation, with 29 riders and pillion passengers killed. Men aged 51 to 55 represent over a quarter of those who have died. Nearly half of these deaths occurred on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Cyclists, too, are at heightened risk. Fourteen pedal cyclists have lost their lives this year, with a significant number of fatalities falling into two age groups - young people under 20, and older adults aged 70 and above. Many of these collisions happened between 12 and 3 p.m.
Taken together, these figures paint a clear and urgent picture: the people most exposed on our roads are often the least visible.
Drivers have a vital role to play in protecting those most exposed on our roads. An Garda Síochána is urging motorists to make sure all vehicle lights are fully operational, and to drive with dipped headlights during the day, particularly in fading daylight or poor weather conditions, when visibility is at its lowest. Windscreens should be kept clean, clear and free from distractions, with sufficient washer fluid and functioning wipers to maintain visibility at all times.
Motorists are also reminded to give extra space when overtaking pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter users and motorcyclists, especially on rural roads where damaged or uneven road edges may force vulnerable road users to travel further out into the carriageway. Small actions by drivers can make a critical difference, and could save a life.
Today (Thursday) An Garda Síochána will share a series of posts on its social channels, which include guidance to all road users. These posts will be pinned to the top of all profiles, forming a high-visibility strip across every channel.
Divisional Roads Policing Units across the country are also undertaking high-visibility patrols, which will include providing high-visibility jackets at schools, sports clubs, and community events, engaging directly with cyclists, e-scooter drivers and other vulnerable road users, to promote safer practices.
Assistant Commissioner, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Catharina Gunne, said: "Every life lost on our roads is one too many. The people behind these statistics are parents, grandparents, children, friends and neighbours. We are asking the public to join us in a simple but powerful act: be seen. Whether you are walking, cycling, driving, riding a motorcycle or using an e-scooter, visibility saves lives.
“The ‘Can You See Me Now?’ campaign is about drawing attention to a danger that is often underestimated, especially during dark winter months. If our channels turning neon yellow made you look twice, then the campaign is already working.”
An Garda Síochána urges all road users to:
• Wear or use high-visibility clothing and accessories
• Use appropriate lighting on bicycles, motorcycles and e-scooters and vehicles
• Drive using dipped headlights at all times of day during the winter period
• Slow down and anticipate vulnerable road users, allow extra space for overtaking on rural roads in particular
• Be extra vigilant during hours of low light
As Ireland enters the darkest months of the year, the message is simple: If you can be seen, you can be safer.