New research from the Road Safety Authority has revealed there was a 77.8 per cent reduction in the number of children (under 14 years old ) killed on Irish roads in the period 1997 to 2010. This was announced as the RSA and Electric Ireland teamed up for the third year running to distribute 85,500 high visibility vests to every child starting school this year. The vests will be included in the RSA’s ‘Back to School’ road safety packs which will be distributed to primary schools nationwide over the coming months.
The RSA’s Child Casualties Report also revealed that there has been an 81.8 per cent reduction in child passenger fatalities, comparing 2010 statistics to those of 1997. However, the report found that of the child passenger fatalities in this period, one in three was not wearing a seatbelt or a child restraint. The report also showed that 252 children were killed and 1,059 were seriously injured on Irish roads between 1997 and 2010. Child fatalities decreased by 77.8 per cent in the period 1997 to 2010 with a 39.6 per cent reduction in serious injuries, a 63.6 per cent reduction in pedestrian fatalities, a 100 per cent reduction in cyclist fatalities, and an 81.8 per cent reduction in child passenger fatalities.
Forty three per cent of children who were killed or seriously injured between 1997 and 2010 were passengers in a car; 60 per cent of child fatalities between 1997 and 2010 occurred on roads outside built up areas where the speed limit is higher than 60km/h; and one in three child fatalities occurred between 4pm and 6.59pm.
Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, said: “This week, parents, teachers, and children around the country are preparing for the beginning of a new school year. Learning how to use the road safely is one of the most important lessons a child can learn, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the parents and teachers who make this a priority, both at home and in school. Children learn by the example set by adults so please continue to demonstrate safe behaviour to our youngest and most vulnerable road users.”
The research also revealed that over half (56 per cent ) of all child casualties in Ireland between 1997 and 2010 were pedestrians or cyclists. The RSA and Electric Ireland are providing every child starting school with a high visibility vest to ensure they are clearly seen by other road users when walking or cycling to school.
Noel Brett, chief executive, Road Safety Authority, urged parents, guardians, and teachers to prioritise road safety, both at home and in school. “While there has been a significant reduction in the number of children killed and seriously injured on our roads, any tragedy, particularly involving a young person, is one too many,” he said. “Attitudes to road safety are formed from a very young age so I would encourage parents and teachers to take the time to talk to their children about road safety and make sure they practise good road safety behaviour at all times.”
Back to school pack
Liam Molloy, general manager, Electric Ireland, added: “This is a very important initiative for Electric Ireland and we are delighted to partner with the RSA for the third year running to promote road safety among our youngest road users and indeed their families. Since the beginning of this campaign, the RSA and Electric Ireland have distributed over 250,000 high visibility vests to children starting school. This has helped ensure that our youngest and most vulnerable road users are clearly visible on the roads at all times and reflects Electric Ireland’s ongoing commitment to promoting safe road use at all times.”
The Back to School pack for primary schools, delivery of which will start in September, contains a high visibility vest for every child starting school in partnership with Electric Ireland; and ‘Going to School’ leaflets for junior infants entering education, this is a parent’s guide to getting children to school safely; a Safe Cross Code promotional pack including a CD of the song and a poster with the words of the Safe Cross Code, song and dance to be taught in the classroom; and the School News newsletter.
The RSA is also asking parents to include road safety gear such as bicycle helmets in their back to school shopping list, and encouraged them to show their children how to use the roads safely when walking, cycling, or travelling to school by bus or car.
The RSA also has a number of other road safety resources for teachers and students including the Safe Cross Code, Street Smart, Be Safe, Let’s Go, Seatbelt Sheriff, and Hi Glo Silver for primary level, all of which teach young road users how to use the roads safely. At secondary level, there is the Junior Cycle resource entitled Streetwise as well as Your Road to Safety for transition year. The Let’s Go CD, which is a road safety resource for principals and teachers, will be delivered to every secondary school over the coming weeks.
For further road safety information for parents, teachers and students, visit www.rsa.ie
