Road safety module for transition year
Education Minister Mary Hanafin and Transport Minister Noel Dempsey yesterday announced details of the new programme, which is being piloted in 50 post-primary schools.
It provides students with an overview of road safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists and covers issues such as seatbelts and airbags, driver fatigue, drink and drug driving, enforcement, basic first aid and rehabilitation.
The course was devised as a result of collaboration between the Road Safety Authority, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the Department of Education and Science with further input provided by An Garda Síochána and the fire and ambulance services.
Ms Hanafin said relevant Driver Theory Test learning would be included at the end of each module.
As part of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy, every student that undertakes the new transition year programme will have the opportunity to undertake the Driver Theory Test before completion of their Leaving Certificate. However, the new programme does not include driving lessons.
“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 road,” said Ms Hanafin.
She told students from Malahide Community School and St Aidan’s CBS in Whitehall — two schools which are piloting the programme — that it was designed to raise greater awareness of the importance of responsible attitudes and behaviour in regard to road safety.
Ms Hanafin said feedback on the programme was “very positive” and was viewed as stimulating and thought-provoking.
More than 39,000 people aged 21 or under sit the driving test each year with an average pass rate of 56.5%.
* www.nsc.ie
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