Landowners are being reminded of the looming Wildlife Act deadline and are being advised to cut their hedgerows so that they are not causing a road safety hazard.
Hedges can be cut between 1st September and the end of February – under the Wildlife Act 1976, hedge-cutting is prohibited from 1st March to 31st August, except in cases where overgrowth poses a road safety hazard.
With just over a week until the Act comes into force, the call is now being jointly issued from the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA).
Properly maintained hedges ensure vulnerable road users are not forced onto the road by overgrown hedges. It additionally affords motorists a clear view of what is in front of them or around a bend, especially on rural roads in the case of sightlines at junctions or obstructions to road signs.
‘INACTION COULD ENDANGER LIVES
Sarah O’Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs with the RSA said: “Overgrown hedgerows can pose a road safety hazard. We all have a role to play in making roads safer, and landowners must take responsibility. Inaction could endanger lives.”
Landowners should act now to ensure compliance and prevent potential enforcement actions by local authorities.
Results from a 2024 Ipsos B&A survey of professional drivers, commissioned by the RSA, found that 75% of 620 HGV drivers surveyed reported overgrown roadside hedgerows to be challenging while driving.
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) also urged landowners to consider both truck and trailer height when cutting back hedgerows.
“Overgrown hedgerows pose a serious hazard to all road users, particularly for high-sided vehicles such as trucks,” said Ger Hyland, President of the IRHA. “When hedges encroach onto the road, truck drivers are often forced to veer across the white line in order to avoid damage to their vehicles and wing mirrors, creating a dangerous situation for all road users.
“We urge landowners to take action and ensure hedgerows are trimmed back, not just at the roadside, but also at the necessary height – over 4 metres to accommodate our larger vehicles,” he said.
