RSA & Gardai urge drivers to be extra cautious as more children cycle and walk to school

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána are advising drivers to take extra care when using the roads now that national and secondary schools have reopened, following prolonged closure due to Covid-19.

There is a significant increase in school-going traffic and drivers will have noticed a rise in the number of children using ‘active modes’ of transport such as cycling or walking to get to school. Drivers need to slow down and allow at least 1m overtaking distance when passing cyclists in speed zones up to 50km/h and at least 1.5m when passing in speed zones above 50km/h.

There is an increase in the number of school buses on the road too and drivers need to slow down, and stop if necessary, when buses are pulling in to pick up or drop children off. Drivers need to slow down in the vicinity of schools and obey the instructions of school wardens, who they may not be used to seeing on the road.

One local project that is using ‘active modes’ of transport to get children to school is the ‘Galway Cycle Bus’, Knocknacarrra, Co. Galway. The ‘Galway Cycle Bus’ project won an RSA Leading Light in Road Safety Award for Sustainable Travel in 2019 for their innovative and sustainable way of getting to school. Originally set up by Alan Curran in September 2018, the Galway Cycle Bus operates two routes with separate starting points and several intermediate stops where children and parents can join the cycling bus and cycle safely in convoy, before reaching their final destinations at Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh and Knocknacarra National School.

Commenting on this year’s back-to-school campaign, Ms. Hildegarde Naughton TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics said: “Now that the schools have reopened it is vitally important that we look out for our children on the roads. As we are encouraging children to walk or cycle to school where possible, an increase in young cyclists and pedestrians on the roads is to be expected this year. Drivers need to adjust both their mindset and driving behaviour accordingly.”

Referring to the reopening of schools, Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson, Road Safety Authority said: “The roads are busier now as children have returned to school so we want to remind road users to be extra vigilant and on guard to any potential hazards. We all must play our part in getting children back to school safely in what is a changed landscape during Covid-19. With that in mind, we anticipate an increase in children walking or cycling to school this year and expect to see more innovative schemes introduced like the Galway Cycle Bus taking to the roads. Parents who have children walking or cycling to school should ensure they practice safe walking and cycling habits by wearing a high-visibility vest and a properly fitted safety helmet. Their bikes should be equipped with a bell, lights and reflectors. I would encourage drivers and parents alike to visit the RSA website where we have plenty of resources to help get our children back to school safely.”

Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, An Garda Síochána commented: “We would appeal to drivers to be extra careful as we adjust to increased traffic volumes and changed road layouts as children return to school. This week we will see increased numbers of children using public transport, walking and cycling to school. It is important that drivers are not distracted and should be aware of pedestrians and cyclists, driving at safe speeds and allowing safe passing distances. We all need to adjust our behaviour according to road conditions and the environment. We would ask parents to remind their children to take care on the journey to and from school. All drivers should ensure children are properly restrained by either wearing a seatbelt or using the appropriate child car seat. We remind all parents dropping children off at school to do it safely, please park safely, do not double park, do not park in cycle lanes and do not allow children to alight from a vehicle while in traffic. It is important that areas around schools are safe for all children.”

Speaking about the Galway Cycle Bus, founder Alan Curran, said: “When I originally started the Galway Cycle Bus it was just as a way of getting my own children safely to school without having to buy a second car. It’s now grown to service 10 stops on the way to Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh and St John the Baptist National School, Knocknacarra. We have four marshals accompanying the children every day so it’s a real community effort and it’s great to see so many people get behind the initiative. I really would encourage others to try it in their community.”

For the tenth year running, the RSA will distribute free high visibility vests to every child starting school in September. To date, this campaign has provided 990,000 children throughout the country with high visibility vests and this year they will distribute another 110,000 vests.

Notes

In October, the RSA will launch a new, virtual 3D, learning experience - ‘Virtual Hub’. The new online platform, will be a safe space for teachers and students to fully immerse themselves in road safety education . The learning experience, which will be lead by RSA experts, will offer a fun learning destination for students and includes themed rooms where younger age groups can interact with road safety characters such as Seatbelt Sheriff and Hi Glo Silver. Older age groups get to experience the dangers of driving and texting, driver fatigue and the consequences of drink driving.

The RSA will be distributing ‘Back to School’ packs for the 2020/2021 academic year.

Primary school packs will include:

• A high visibility vest for every child starting junior infants
• ‘Safe Cross Code’ promotional materials for third class pupils
• The ‘Educational News’ newsletter;
• ‘Travel to school by bus safely’ poster which shows safe behaviours when travelling to school by bus

Secondary school packs will include: 

• Reflective Strips for 1st year students to attach to their schoolbags and help students be more visible on the roads
• Poster which includes cycling and walking tips for all students in school
• Wall planner for Leaving Certificate students for recording all the important dates and events while at the same time being reminded of their responsibility on the road when starting to drive.
• Poster for Leaving Certificate students entitled “Get This Season’s Killer Look”, aimed at discouraging women from wearing their seatbelts under their arm, which can cause horrific injuries in the event of a collision.
• ‘Travel to school by bus safely’ poster which shows safe behaviours when travelling to school by bus

The RSA also has a number of other road safety resources for teachers and students which aim to promote and encourage road safety among school-children.

• At primary level, ‘Be Safe’, ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi Glo Silver’, ‘Safe Cross Code’, ‘Let’s Go’ and Street Smart’, teaches young road users how to use the roads safely.
• At secondary level, there is a Junior Cycle wellbeing resource entitled ‘Road Safety Matters’ which is available for delivery to first years as well as the new updated ‘Your Road to Safety’ programme for Transition Year.
• Virtual, interactive presentations will be available in October through the RSA’s Nationwide Road Safety Education Service.  We cover a range of topics on road safety including road safety at school, pedestrian and cycle safety, urban and rural transport issues, learning to drive and killer behaviours. This service is free of charge.

Following the Government decision to introduce measures to delay the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19), some of our services such as: The RSA Shuttle, Rollover Simulator, ‘Street Smart’ and Check it Fits Service have been suspended until further notice.