Experts have suggested that cyclists should wear high-visibility clothing on the road to improve safety for all road users.
Thomas O'Connor, assistant general secretary of Ireland's National Bus and Rail Union, put forward recommendations to a Joint Oireachtas Committee on transport and road safety earlier this week.
Speaking in Leinster House, Ireland's Parliament, Mr O'Connor explained that driving a larger vehicle, like a bus, is difficult.
He noted that navigating hazards is a "deluge", noting that it can be even more difficult at night when road safety is even more of an imperative.
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Mr O'Connor said: "The requirement for mandatory high-vis clothing for all cyclists and scooters, from the perspective of a bus driver, would make the roads a safer place, as it would make potential hazards easier to spot.
"Bus drivers as they gain experience, learn to anticipate things and often prevent potential accidents through pre-emptive defensive driving. High visibility clothing would make that task inherently easier."
It comes after Ireland's Department of Transport hinted at the introduction of new rules impacting cyclists.
Proposals have been put forward that would mandate helmet and hi-vis legislation for riders of bicycles and e-bikes, Road.CC reported.
Experts have called for cyclists to wear high-visibility clothing to reduce accidents
|GETTY
However, these plans appear to have been amended, with Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister (Tánaiste) Simon Harris, saying the rules would not apply to non-motorised bikes.
The Fine Gael politician stated taht the law change would only apply to electric scooters and electric bikes.
The Highway Code states that cyclists should wear appropriate clothing that does not get tangled in the chain or obscure any lights.
It adds that light-coloured or fluorescent clothing can help other road users see cyclists in daylight and poor light.
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The Highway Code calls on motorists to wear clothing that makes them
|HIGHWAY CODE
Reflective clothing and accessories, including belts, arm bands or ankle bands, can increase their visibility in the dark.
Despite this, Cycling UK explained that it had concerns around Rule 59 of the Highway Code and its guidance around clothing.
It stated: "There is no sound evidence that hi-vis clothing makes a positive impact on cyclists' safety.
"The rule is frequently used to blame cyclists when drivers fail to see them (because they have not helped themselves to be seen by wearing hi-vis), in order to deflect attention from their own apparent failure to look properly."
Cycling UK has called for changes to the Highway Code
| GETTYA briefing paper from Cycling UK identified that wearing hi-vis clothing makes "very little difference" to how closely motorists overtake a cyclist.
It also highlights that retroreflective accessories attached to limbs make a larger difference than the colour of someone's jacket.
"Rule 59 advises light-coloured or fluorescent clothing, yet a cyclist wearing a yellow jacket as they ride past a field of oil seed rape is less conspicuous against that background than someone wearing a black jacket and white shorts," Cycling UK stated.