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Road safety group urges
back-to-school care 27.08.08
THE Donegal Road Safety
Working Group has reminded back-to-school students
and their parents of the importance of road safety.
Road Safety Officer, Eamonn Brown said students and
parents should remember the importance of wearing a
seatbelt on the journey to and from school. "Whether
it’s in a car or school bus it’s equally important.
Put simply, seatbelts save lives. We would ask
parents to take a few minutes before the start of
the school year to discuss road safety with their
children.
"Putting a safe routine in practice from day one
will make it easier to follow and allow it to become
habit forming for your child," he said. |
Road Safety Authority
research in 2006 into seatbelt wearing rates on the
school journey by private cars suggested huge room
for improvement.
Compliance with the seatbelt legislation for primary
school children was 64% in the back seat and this
rose slightly for secondary school back seat
students to 76%.
But compliance by secondary school |
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on buses was as low as
25%.
Mr Brown expressed concern at this figure and said
the challenge was to raise compliance levels on bus
journeys to at least the same level as the private
car.
"Increased levels of traffic as we all get back to
our normal routine over the next few weeks, along
with the inclement weather we are experiencing, will
leave the next few weeks particularly hazardous on
our roads," he said.
Meanwhile, the start of the school year also sees
the return of the school wardens.
The warden’s primary function is to assist school
children to cross the road safely. Failure to stop
for a school warden sign, if convicted through the
courts, can see up to four penalty points added to
your licence along with a fine of up to €120.
Mr Brown added: “We all have responsibility when it
comes to safe school travel. Motorists need to drive
carefully, respect school wardens and obey traffic
regulations.
"Students, when walking or cycling, should be
clearly visible by wearing light coloured or
reflective clothing and take the time to cross roads
safely. And lastly, regardless of what type of
vehicle we are travelling in, always wear a
seatbelt.” |
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