PRESS RELEASE Donna Fox Anniversary .

"Give Time, Give Space" is the annual Donna Fox anniversary appeal to motorists to slow down and give cyclists room on our roads. It is also a plea to the Minister for Justice to give teeth to the hard won 2019 Dangerous Overtaking of a Cyclist legislation by enabling robust enforcement in way of a designated national portal for cycling.

Donna Fox's tragic death on September 6th 2016 in Dublin city gave impetus to efforts to improve roads for cycling safety. Donna was cycling to work when hit by a delivery lorry driver, dying at the scene. Ever an optimist in life such is the emphasis of "Give Time, Give Space" in her memory. The message is that a little time a little space can, and does save lives! Everyone has the power to keep cyclists safe. 

This year however focus is also being raised by "Give Time, Give Space" on what could be viewed as a demotion of road safety by the decision to push Road Safety down to a junior portfolio in 2020. Ireland was hailed "a model for the European Union" on winning the ETSC Road Safety Performance Index Award in June 2019. To keep and build on this demands a Cabinet Position. 

"Where road safety is concerned there can be no let up nevermind a clear demotion by government. The Minister for Transport should be over road safety pure and simple. I would call on the Taoiseach to reinstate road safety to this status. Increases in fatalities since the position was downgraded shouldn't go unnoticed either." Neil Fox 

Particular frustration remains with the Department of Justice who have failed thus far to bring in a portal for cycling (to assist and simplify reporting of near misses and dangerous passes by motorists).

"It is regrettable that despite persistent calls from so many stakeholders the Minister for Justice has shown no will to act with the urgency required, this coupled with no Cabinet Minister actively at helm of road safety in Ireland is concerning to say the least." Neil Fox.

"Donna was an amazing loving and kind, fiercely loyal girl taken too soon. I'm honoured to have had her as my sister. To remember her is to look to future with hope not despair for the future of safer cycling. Government need to play their part but we all do too, give time, give space today and always as you drive. A second is difference between life and death." 

ENDS

Neil Fox.

Road Safety Advocate and brother of Donna.

0871708838 neilfoxcork@gmail.com 

 neilhealyfox@gmail.com

@NeilHealyFox Twitter.

     

Death of a Cyclist

The news of the tragic death of cyclist Thiago Osorio Cortes in the week of my sister Donna's fourth anniversary, both killed cycling in very close proximity, has obviously deeply saddened me.

My heart goes out to Thiago's family, loved ones, friends and colleagues, and also very much in my thoughts are the cycling and the Brazilian communities in Dublin. 

Thiago like Donna was in the prime of his life, so the mourning for what might have been and the decades of "if onlys" add a deep poignancy to the grief. I really hope each member of his family and loved one is surrounded by good people at this time and in the weeks and months to come. 

This case is heart breaking on so many levels but one kindness can be afforded his family by those who were in the car involved, and that is very simple; come forward, do the right thing and own up to the Gardai now. Nothing will change what has happened, nothing will bring this young man back, but afford him and his loved ones the dignity they deserve. I can not imagine the torture of a hit and run element to such a horror as it is. 

In the four years since Donna died there have been definitely improvements where cycling safety and indeed cycling acceptance is concerned, more needs to be done of course, but we have seen changes. But at the end of the day no amount of changes in legislation, funding or anything forces us as individuals to do the right thing on the roads, personal responsibility does however. We must look out for and care for one another on the roads. Life is fragile and precious. 

Always always always remember that IT COULD BE YOU, it could be you injured or killed, it could be you bereaved, it could be you behind the wheel, it could be you that knocks somebody down, Let us all do what we can to ensure we do all possible to safeguard each other on the roads. 

Thiago and Donna, different situations but the same in the sense they both got on their bikes and never returned home alive. They both became photographs in a newspaper. They both were too young, too alive, too loved to become a photograph.