01 December 2010
RSA Advises Safety When Playing in Snow and Ice
Over the past few days, hundreds of schools around the country have closed as a result of the severe weather conditions which have seen ice, frost and snow making travelling extremely dangerous.
With many young people prevented from going to school because of the snow, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is asking parents to ensure their children are safe when playing outside in the snow and to speak to them about acting responsibly in the wintry conditions. Mr Noel Brett, Chief Executive of the RSA said:
“We understand that people want to have fun in the snow but it’s also important that parents, children and young people are aware that this can also be very dangerous. Before your children and young adults go out to play, talk to them and make sure they know the dangers they may face – what may seem like harmless fun at the time could easily turn to tragedy very quickly.”
“For example, make sure they don’t skate or slide on or near roads as this could lead to serious injuries or worse. Tell them to avoid throwing snowballs at passing cars, motorcycles, cyclists or pedestrians, especially older pedestrians.
We are not trying to be spoilsports, but this can be extremely distracting for road-users and could cause a collision and put someone’s life in danger.” Motorists are advised to never to stop their vehicle to confront snowball throwers, as stopping their vehicle may create an unsafe situation. Instead they should report the matter to An Garda Síochána at a safe opportunity.
The RSA also advised parents to remind their children of the dangers of playing on or near frozen lakes and ponds. “Please do not drive, cycle, walk or skate near frozen lakes and ponds. It may look safe to venture out on to the ice but in many parts, the water is not fully frozen and you could be at serious risk of falling through the ice into freezing water,” said Mr Brett.
The RSA has prepared a helpful guide called ‘Severe Weather Advice for Road Users’ which can be found on www.rsa.ie . It has lots more useful advice for dealing with difficult road conditions in all kinds of severe weather.
ENDS
For media queries, please contact: RSA Communications Office: 096 25008