21 March 2011
RSA Rewards Schoolchildren’s Commitment To Road Safety
In one of the most important road safety events of the year, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) today Monday 21 March rewarded schoolchildren from ten schools nationwide for their efforts in making the roads safer for road-users across Ireland. At the annual ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ awards ceremony at Dublin Castle, Mr Michael Rowland, Director of Road Safety, Research and Education at the RSA said the schoolchildren’s commitment to road safety was ‘an example to us all’. 
Over 280 schoolchildren and their teachers from ten primary schools attended the ceremony at Dublin Castle to receive awards for their projects on road safety. Mr Michael Rowland, RSA, presented the awards to the runners-up and winners of the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ competitions.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr Rowland said: “Today is an important day for us as this particular event recognises the commitment and creativity of young people like you to making our roads safer for everyone. For the RSA and for all of the agencies working in road safety, it is so encouraging to see so many of you here today representing the future of road safety and helping us with our job of keeping people safe on the roads. You are an example to all of us who use the roads.”
“Last year, your good work helped us to save more lives on the road than ever before and for this I thank you. But it doesn’t stop here today. Take what you have learned from your parents and teachers about road safety and continue your good work both at home and in school. Congratulations to all of you on your excellent projects, and thank you also to the teachers and parents who continue to encourage young people to think about road safety.”
The competition, which is now in its seventh year, encourages children to get involved in saving lives on the road by educating them on the importance of buckling up and wearing high visibility clothing. The students from 1st Class in St Colmcille’s National School, Gainstown, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath took first prize in the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ competition for their poster, ‘Mind Yourself, Mind Me, Buckle Up and Think Safety’. The students from 2nd Class in Scoil Mocheallog in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick took first prize in the ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ competition for their poster, ‘Now You See Me, Now You Don’t!’
Chief Superintendent Gabriel McIntyre, An Garda Síochána said: “An Garda Síochána is delighted to support any campaign that promotes awareness and understanding of road safety among our younger road-users. Campaigns such as ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ highlight the importance of educating young road-users as early as possible so that they can develop good road safety behaviour. I congratulate everyone here today, students, teachers and parents, on your excellent work and urge you to continue promoting this life-saving behaviour.”
Mr Michael Rowland, RSA also had a message for parents and teachers: “Today’s event shows how campaigns such as Seatbelt Sheriff and Hi-Glo Silver have the right effect in showing young people how to be road safety aware. I would urge you to continue the excellent work you do both at home and in school in educating young people about road safety. Young people learn by example and so it is extremely important that we all take responsibility for setting a good example of how to behave on the roads. This means making sure we always wear our seatbelts, no matter how short the journey, wearing high visibility clothing when we’re cycling or walking so that other road-users can see us, and demonstrating good road safety behaviour at all times.”
Hundreds of entries were received for the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ competitions. In the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ competition, the runners up were: 1st Class, Scoil Mocheallog, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, 1st Class, Waterpark National School, Park Road, Waterford, 1st Class, Scoil Naomh Mhuire, Greenore, Co. Louth and 1st Class, Scoil Mologa, Cros an Arcild, Baile Átha Cliath.
In the ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ competition, the runners up were: 2nd Class, Paddock National School, Mountrath, Co. Laois, 2nd Class, St Patrick’s Junior School, Skerries, Co. Dublin, 2nd Class in Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg, Bóthar Oakley, Raghnallach, Baile Átha Cliath and 2nd Class, St John of God’s National School, New Street, Kilkenny.
‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ are fun, educational road safety programmes for children in first and second class in primary school. Children in first class become ‘Seatbelt Sheriffs’ by taking a pledge to wear their seatbelts and making sure that everyone else in the car is buckled up too. Once they become ‘Seatbelt Sheriffs’, they can flash their sheriff’s badge so that everyone they’re travelling with knows that they must wear their seatbelts.
After becoming honorary ‘Seatbelt Sheriffs’ in first class, ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ encourages second class students to wear bright clothing when they are out walking or cycling. They will pledge to wear jackets, armbands or belts and remind their parents, family and friends to do the same. Just like becoming a ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’, pupils will receive a certificate that gives them the power to instruct everyone when they walk or cycle to wear safety gear.
Further information on the Road Safety Authority’s Seatbelt Sheriff and Hi-Glo Silver campaigns is available at www.seatbeltsheriff.ie.
For further information, please contact:
RSA Communications Office, Ballina: 096 25008