Road Safety Roadshow

Our Transition Year students went on a field trip to the Road Safety Show in Letterkenny. This emotionally moving show encouraged the students to question their morals when it comes to road safety. This show forms part of a national government strategy to reduce annual road deaths in Ireland, with an eventual aim of having no road deaths at all.

The young people were shown what happens when a fatal or a serious injury collision occurs. They heard from a member of An Garda Síochána, a paramedic, a member of the fire brigade and a consultant from the emergency department of Letterkenny University Hospital as well as other guest speakers who bravely shred their own personal stories which were very moving and hard to hear.

The students sat in silence while listening intently to stories from people who had lost loved ones due to reckless and careless behaviour on our roads. The show had their undivided attention as it sent out a very hard-hitting message and clearly explained the horrific reality of a road traffic collision.

Upon speaking to the students on our way home, it was clear to see that they were really moved by the show and that their attitudes and ethics toward road safety had improved. It was clear that the students were positively influenced by the show’s main message; that just one second lapse of concentration on the road can be fatal, driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs can be fatal, using a mobile phone while driving can be fatal, speed kills and if you are a passenger in a car and the driver is not driving safely then get out!

The show was seen by over 3,000 students from Donegal’s post-primary schools and Youthreach centres over a two day period.