17 September 2010
RSA to distribute 40,000 free high visability vests at Ploughing Championships
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) will be distributing 40,000 free high visibility vests in association with the Irish Farmers Journal and FBD Insurance at this year’s National and European Ploughing Championships. The safety drive is part of the RSA’s continued commitment to educating vulnerable road users on how to stay safe on the roads.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Noel Brett, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority said “We are delighted to be bringing our ‘Road Safety Interactive Shuttle’ back to the Ploughing Championships for the second year. As it is Ireland’s biggest rural event the RSA is looking forward to meeting members of the public and inviting them to experience our interactive ‘shuttle’. This year we will again be giving out high visibility vests to adults and children to ensure pedestrians and cyclists are safe on the roads. As the evenings get darker, we can’t stress how important it is to Be Safe and Be Seen on the road”.
“Wearing a simple high visibility vest will reduce the risk of being involved in a fatal or serious injury collision. The best advice that we can give is to be aware of your vulnerability on the road, take responsibility for your safety and make sure that everyone in your household wears a high visibility vest when walking or cycling, day and night. It could be the difference between being seriously injured, killed or living. Quite simply, wearing the vest could save your life. So come down to our ‘Shuttle’ at the Ploughing Championships and get a free high visibility vest for you and your loved ones” added Mr. Brett.
Matt Dempsey, Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal said, “It’s great to see the vests helping to save lives on rural roads around the country on dark nights. We’re certainly delighted to be involved with the RSA and FBD.”
The National and European Ploughing Championships take place from Tuesday 21st September to Thursday 23rd September in Athy, Co. Kildare. At this year’s Ploughing Championships, the RSA will be opening up their ‘Road Safety Interactive Shuttle’ to the public. The ‘Shuttle’ will play an integral role in increasing and developing road safety awareness at local and national level and has been fitted out and designed to the highest standard to include the following:
- A fully interactive, educational road safety experience;
- A fully equipped presentation area, with lectern, projector, screen and seating for an audience of 25 people;
- A driving simulator enclosed in a specially designed pod where people can test their driving skills under a variety of conditions;
- A motorbike simulator;
- A bike simulator;
- Reaction timers;
- 6 x Computers equipped with the Driver Theory Test, questionnaires, interactive games, RSA website;
- Exhibition areas to promote ‘themed’ road safety issues;
- 2 Plasma screens showing a series of road safety advertisements and road safety programming.
The Road Safety Interactive Shuttle will be located at Stand Number 200, Row K
ENDS
For Further Information:
RSA Communications Office: 096 25008