A new Road Safety Programme targeted at Transition Year students was launched by the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, T.D., and Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, T.D. (29th April 2008). The new programme will be available for schools from this coming September and has been developed as part of the Government’s National Road Safety Strategy.
The programme is currently being piloted in some 50 schools and is available in 20-hour and 45-hour units, as part of the mainstream option under the Transition Year Programme. It will feature inputs from agencies such as the ambulance service, fire service and An Garda Síochána, as well as providing for visiting speakers, trips out of school, projects and case studies.
Source: Road Safety Authority
Pupils from two schools involved in the pilot programme, St Aidan’s CBS in Whitehall and Malahide Community School joined Minister Hanafin and Minister of State, Seán Haughey T.D., at the launch in Government Buildings today. This national road safety programme is the result of collaboration between the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and the Department of Education and Science.
Launching the new programme, Minister Hanafin said “the resources provide an overview of road safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists. It covers issues such as seatbelts and airbags, driver fatigue, drink/drug driving, enforcement, basic first aid at road crashes, emergency services and rehabilitation. The programme is also supported by digital resources, including DVD support and access to international websites on road safety issues.” Relevant Driver Theory Test learning will be included at the end of each module. The programme does not include driving lessons.
Transition Year is now a key element of provision in over 500 second level schools and is taken up by more than 27,000 students. It offers students a broad educational experience with a view to promoting increased maturity, before proceeding to completion of senior cycle. Students participate in learning strategies which are active and experiential and which help them to develop a range of transferable critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
Minister Hanafin went on to say “while 2007 was one of the safest years on Irish roads in over 40 years, the stark fact is that 338 people lost their lives last year. Behind these figures are individual human and family tragedies. Education and raising awareness of road safety issues as well as informing and influencing behaviour are key to reducing casualties on our roads. The Programme for Government commitment aims to ensure that education is provided in road safety at different stages of the school system, including a specific Transition Year course.”
The Minister thanked all those involved in developing the programme, the Road Safety Authority, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the Transition Year Support Service, the editorial group of teachers who assisted in the development of the programme, and the 50 or so schools which have provided important feedback throughout the pilot phase.
“I would like to encourage schools to take up the opportunity to use this new programme in the year ahead, and do their part in helping to make our roads safer. The feedback has been very positive from the schools participating in the pilot, indicating that the programme is viewed to be stimulating and thought provoking for students, and promotes greater awareness of the importance of responsible attitudes and behaviour in regard to road safety issues” said Minister Hanafin.
“I would like to encourage schools to take up the opportunity to use this new programme in the year ahead, and do their part in helping to make our roads safer. The feedback has been very positive from the schools participating in the pilot, indicating that the programme is viewed to be stimulating and thought provoking for students, and promotes greater awareness of the importance of responsible attitudes and behaviour in regard to road safety issues” said Minister Hanafin.
Other ways that road safety is highlighted in primary & post primary schools
The Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme, which is mandatory in primary schools and at junior cycle level, has a specific personal safety strand within the programme. This provides a mechanism through which road safety issues for all can be best dealt with in an age appropriate way.
Seatbelt Sherriff & High Glo Silver (7-9 years old)
Seatbelt Sheriff is aimed at primary school children in 1st class and is a fun way to get children involved in saving lives. This initiative is run with Renault. Seatbelt Sheriff is now in its 4th year and has been very successful.
The Road Safety Authority/MACE “Safe to School” campaign at primary level was launched in February 2007. It includes a DVD, posters, information leaflets, teacher worksheets for use within the SPHE curriculum, a guide for parents and a picture competition for students, and has been circulated to all primary schools. There is also a website www.safetoschool.ie which includes a walking guide, quizzes etc.
The Department of Education in conjunction with Bus Eireann and the Road Safety Authority sent a DVD and poster to all primary schools, featuring Dustin, informing students about the need to “Belt Up Safely” when on the school bus. This was backed up by a national radio, cinema, TV and newspaper advertising campaign.
The Streetwise programme for junior cycle pupils was launched in UN Road Safety Week in April 2007. It covers road safety across nine topics – walking, cycling, seatbelts, airbags, speed, driver fatigue, motor cycle safety, hazard recognition and the engineering aspects of road safety, to be delivered over approx nine class periods.
Officers from An Garda Síochána regularly visit primary and second level schools during which the themes of crime, road safety, personal safety and substance abuse are explored as part of the SPHE programme.
The government has got something right (for a change)! This is a great idea, but one problem is that some students skip fourth year and go straight to fifth. Perhaps a course (for everyone) similar to the mandatory CSPE curriculum could be implemented for Road Safety, for example (without lengthening the already packed schedule), so that all students could benefit from this development and renewed interest in safety on Irish roads.