Councillor calls for high-vis vest fines

Westport councillors want to see high-vis by-law


Ciara Galvin
ciaragalvin@mayonews.ie

Anyone walking on poorly lit roads at night without a high-vis vest should be fined.
That was a by-law proposed at last Thursday’s meeting of Westport Town Council. Fianna FΡil’s Cllr Brendan Mulroy is seeking the enforcement of high visibility vests for those walking in badly lit areas in the evening and at night.
Cllr Mulroy suggested a proposal should be drawn up stating that anyone without a high-vis vest walking roads would be deemed to be committing an offence.
He said the Council should try to get the issue legislated, and suggested that a fine for offending could be introduced, adding that the by-law would be saving people’s lives.
Backing Cllr Mulroy’s proposal, Cllr Myles Staunton said he would assist Cllr Mulroy in drafting a by-law and deemed it a worthwhile proposal.
Cllr Hyland said enacting a by-law would be a ‘big advantage’ but questioned whether moneys from an on the spot fine would go to the ‘coffers’ [of Westport Town Council] or a national fund.
Speaking to The Mayo News about the proposal, Mayo County Council Road Safety Officer, Noel Gibbons said although he welcomed suggestions from councillors about road safety, he said it was education rather than enforcement that needed to be introduced.
“If you start telling people what to wear, their rights will be infringed. It would be another law that would have to be enforced,” said Mr Gibbons.
According to Mr Gibbons, Mayo County Council’s road safety initiative has been giving these vests to the public at various events in the hope to raises awareness and result in every household in Mayo having at least one of these vests.

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