Pupils promote road safety

TRANSPORT Minister Noel Dempsey was wreathed in smiles as he presented awards to children from 10 schools around the country for their efforts in promoting road safety.

More than 265 children attended the event at Dublin Castle yesterday to receive their Seatbelt Sheriff and Hi-Glo Silver awards.

The competition encourages children to highlight elements of road safety through arts and crafts, with the students from First Class at Fossa National School in Co Kerry taking the first prize in the Seatbelt Sheriff competition for their poster ‘Buckle ‘em up Sheriffs’.

Students from Second Class in Rearcross National School in Newport, Co Tipperary, won first prize in the Hi-Glo Silver competition for their poster ‘In the Night, Show Some Light’.

Every child in attendance seemed to be wearing a day-glo cowboy hat.

Mr Dempsey urged children to make sure their parents followed their example when it came to wearing bright clothes while out walking and cycling, and to wear their seatbelts.

Chief executive of the Road Safety Authority Noel Brett said it was absolutely important that every school-going child in the country knows how to use the road safely.

He said it highlighted the “pester power” of children to influence their parents regarding the wearing of seat belts and high-visibility dress when out walking or cycling.