Road Safety Authority and Macra Na Feirme launch partnership to improve road safety behaviour in rural communities

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and Macra Na Feirme, the voluntary organisation representing young people from rural Ireland, have announced a partnership aimed at encouraging better road safety behaviour among young people from rural communities nationwide. 

The partnership will focus on four key areas including – the dangers of mobile distraction, the importance of wearing seatbelts, be safe be seen and how to prevent driver fatigue. Another element will be the education and awareness around farm machinery safety with a special emphasis on knowledge around the towing of trailers and what regulations are in place. The RSA will be offering training to Macra Youth Leaders on how to create a positive environment for educating their own members.

Macra na Feirme represents a rural community of over 10,000 young people with members aged between 17 and 35. Working in conjunction with the RSA, Macra Na Feirme’s Rural Youth Committee are leading out the partnership which will be bringing road safety awareness training to their members around the country.

Mr Sam Waide, CEO of the Road Safety Authority said: “We recently released figures showing that 78% of road fatalities so far in 2021 have occurred on rural roads*. We cannot get complacent, early intervention with local communities can help us to tackle this. We urge all vehicle drivers to slow down, be mindful of agricultural vehicles on rural roads and vulnerable road users, particularly as the evenings get darker and driving conditions deteriorate in the winter months. Working with Macra na Feirme is a key partnership for the RSA and we look forward to engaging with their members to raise awareness and provide essential training to help reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads.”

Mr John Keane, President of Macra na Feirme said, “We are delighted to be working with the RSA to raise awareness of vital road safety measures with all our members. As COVID-19 restrictions ease we know that people are using the roads in greater numbers and Macra members are getting back in their vehicles, we want to make sure they do so safely. We are urging our members to remember the dangers of mobile distraction, the importance of wearing seatbelts and to be safe and be seen by ensuring flashing beacons on agricultural vehicles are maintained and in working order. Road safety is a shared responsibility and our aim with this partnership is to instil responsible behaviours in our members so that we can do our part to keeping Irish roads safe.”

Superintendent Michael Corbett, Community Engagement Bureau, An Garda Síochána said: “We welcome this partnership between the Road Safety Authority and Macra na Feirme. Gardai regularly have to confront the devastation caused due to dangerous behaviour on rural roads so we are pleased with efforts to improve road safety awareness and education amongst a younger, rural cohort of road users. Each of us have a shared responsibility to improve road behaviour and we look forward to working with the RSA and Macra na Feirme to engage and educate communities at a local level.”