18 August 2010
Ireland's Top Music, TV and Radio Presenters urge leaving cert students to celebrate safely
Danny O’Donoghue, lead singer with The Script had this message for students celebrating tomorrow night: “Well done everyone for all your hard work getting to this point you deserve a great night out. But don't let one night out ruin the rest of your life. Drink responsibly with friends, and please never drink and drive. Just thinking if anything had happened to me through alcohol or drugs, I would have missed all this! Go and enjoy yourself, you've worked hard for it.”
RTÉ 2fm DJ Jenny Huston added her support to the campaign saying: “Congratulations to all the Leaving Cert students today! This is a time for celebration, so if you’re planning on driving, or getting into a car with friends tonight, PLEASE make sure to wear your seatbelts, don’t speed and never ever drink and drive or drug drive.”
TV3 presenter and weatherman Martin King advised students to have fun and stay safe tonight: “Enjoy the night, because you've worked hard and you've earned it. But stay safe. If there's trouble, walk away and when the night is over, take a taxi home.”
Rick O’Shea from RTÉ 2fm also had a message for students: “Well done everyone - now is a time to celebrate a tough year of hard work, pressure and study. But just a thought for you - the last thing you want to do is throw that and all your plans for the future away by getting into a car with someone who's drink or drug driving, or driving too fast. Go out and have fun - but make sure you get home safely.”
TV3 news anchor and presenter Colette Fitzpatrick said: “Well done on all your hard work over the last couple of years. This is an exciting time so please don't make a bad decision tonight that could turn a time of celebration into tragedy. Have a great night and stay safe on the roads.”
Country music star Mike Denver reminded students to be road safety aware tomorrow: “You have the rest of your lives ahead of you and tonight is a time to celebrate the end of a hard slog. But whatever you do, don’t let a night of celebration turn into a time of tragedy. If you’re bringing the car with you tonight, drive safely or better still, make alternative arrangements to get home.”
As a night of celebrations gets underway, the RSA is advising parents to talk to their young adults and make sure they have plans in place to get home safely.
Noel Brett, CEO of the Road Safety Authority said: “We are urging parents to encourage their son or daughter to use public transport where possible and ensure they get home safely. If they are taking the car out, make sure they know that the consequences of driving dangerously last for a lot longer than one night. It’s a night to be proud of your young adult’s achievements and they deserve this time of celebration after all their hard work so it’s important that you are both confident that they will arrive home safely tonight.”
ENDS
For further information:
RSA Communications Office: 096 25008
Editors Note:
Examples of promises that could form part of a ‘Safer Driving Agreement’
Driving at night: As young drivers have a high proportion of their crashes at night, agree the times when they can drive the car. For example, you might agree they will not use the car between midnight and 6:00am, the high risk period for crashes.
Carrying Groups of Friends: Consider agreeing a limit on the number of their friends they carry to just one or two if you are not in the car.
Alcohol and drugs: Ask the young driver in your household to stick to a zero limit.
Ask them not to take a lift with drivers who have been drinking or might have taken drugs. Remember, even some over-the-counter medicines cause drowsiness.
Remind them that taking drugs is illegal and can be life threatening. Drugs can affect your mind and body in a variety of ways that mean you aren't able to drive safely. Not only that, the effects can last for hours or even days. For example, cannabis shows in urine for up to four weeks after it is taken
Speed: Young drivers are more likely to see speed as exciting. They are particularly prone to approaching bends too fast and to dangerous overtaking. Even keeping within the speed limit can be unsafe, for example on wet or on narrow, winding rural roads. Discuss with your young driver why you would like them not to speed or take risks.
Mobile phones: While it is reassuring for young drivers to carry a mobile phone, it is dangerous to use it when driving. Ask your son or daughter to agree only to use their mobile phone when parked. Discuss other distractions, like playing loud music, eating, drinking and smoking to ensure they are aware of the implications of dividing attention between the driving and other things.
Seatbelts: Most drivers wear seat belts, but rear seat passengers are less likely to do so. They present a danger to themselves and to other people in the car. Drivers could agree to always ask their passengers to wear their seatbelts.