A new road safety programme aimed at transition year students has been unveiled by the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin.
The programme, which is due to start in September, is part of the Government’s National Road Safety Strategy and will be piloted in 50 schools.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin
A collaboration between the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and the Department of Education and Science, several agencies have also had input into its development, including the ambulance service, fire service and An Garda Síochána.
It covers safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists, with safety issues such as seatbelts and airbags, driver fatigue, drink and drug driving, and basic first aid at crash scenes icnluded in the curriculum.
As part of the scheme, guest speakers will visit schools, with external trips, projects and case studies also part of the plan.
Announcing the programme, the Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said that while 2007 was one of the safest years on Irish roads in more than 40 years, some 338 people were still killed.
"Behind these figures are individual human and family tragedies. Education and raising awareness of road safety issues as well as informing and influencing behaviour are key to reducing casualties on our roads. The Programme for Government commitment aims to ensure that education is provided in road safety at different stages of the school system, including a specific Transition Year course," she said.
