02 Feabhra 2010

Deir Seatbelt Sheriff agus Hi-Glo Silver 'Cuir ort do chrios agus bí feiceálach!'

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) today Tuesday 2nd February recognised 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, Minister for Transport, Mr Noel Dempsey called the children in attendance ‘the future of road safety’ and applauded their commitment to ensuring their safety and the safety of others on the road.

Over 265 schoolchildren and their teachers from ten primary schools attended the ceremony at Dublin Castle to receive awards for their projects on road safety. Minister for Transport, Mr Noel Dempsey T.D., presented the awards to the runners-up and winners of the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ competitions.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Minister for Transport, Mr Noel Dempsey T.D. said: “I am delighted to be here today to present these awards to children whose creativity and imagination greatly helps us with our job of educating people on how to behave safely on the roads. And last year, more and more people paid attention to our message and changed their behaviour as a result.”

“All of you here today represent the future of road safety and have demonstrated how important it is to learn good road safety practices at a young age. I congratulate all of the students for their excellent projects, and urge teachers and parents to continue encouraging young people to think about road safety,” he concluded.

The competition, which has been running since 2004, 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 at Fossa National School in Co. Kerry took first prize in the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ competition for their poster, ‘Buckle ‘em up sheriffs’. The students from 2nd class in Rearcross National School in Newport, Co. Tipperary took first prize in the ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ competition for their poster, ‘In the Night, Show Some Light!’

Mr Noel Brett, CEO of the RSA reminded parents and teachers how important it is to start road safety education at a young age: “It is never too early to start educating young people on how to be safe on the road. Good road safety behaviour is learned by example and it is up to each and every one of us adults to set the right example by wearing our seatbelts, making sure we are wearing high visibility clothing when out cycling or walking in the dark, and driving safely at all times.”

“Everyone sitting here today has proven how even small changes can lead to big results. Last year, we had 40 fewer deaths on our roads than the previous year, proving that campaigns such as ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ are having the right effect. You have all played a role in saving lives on the roads and for this I thank you and ask you to continue the good work,” he added.

‘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. Hundreds of entries were received for the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ competitions. In the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ competition, the runners up were:

•  Izabela Smitaite, St Declan’s National School;
• Sarah Nic Eoin, Tess de Barra, Alex Ó Floinn, Aoibhe Ní Nuanáin and Beatrice Cooke from Gaelscoil Thaobh na Coille, Kilternan, Co. Dublin;
• Michael Hosey from Tinryland National School, Co. Carlow and
• Maitiú Breathnach from Scoil Naisuinta Corrchloch in Co. Mayo.

In the ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ competition, the runners up were:

• Ferdia Quigley, Le Chéile Educate Together, Drogheda, Co Louth;
• Jack McLaughlin, Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana, Co Donegal;
• Zoe Tobin, Primrose Hill National School, Celbridge, Co. Kildare and
• Lucy Goggin, Clonpriest National School, Youghal, Co. Cork.

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: 096 25008