Drivers urged to 'slow down or die young'

Change your driving behaviour now or you may not live beyond 25, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen told students today.

Speaking at the launch of a major new hard-hitting television advert on dangerous driving, the minister implored young people to slow down on the roads.

The advert: ’The faster the speed, the bigger the mess’ – features a sixty second graphic message about the implications of speeding and will be aired on both UTV and RTE One tonight.

The campaign marks the first UN Global Road Safety Week and the 12th cross-border road safety initiative.

“Car crashes are the number one killers of young men in Ireland,” the minister said.

“The over-representation of young people, and particularly young males, in road accidents is a recognised phenomenon in many countries, and much study has been devoted to it.

“The Road Safety Authority has revealed that men aged between 17 and 24 years are almost six times more likely to be responsible for fatal or serious injury collisions where excessive speed is cited as a contributory factor.

“In fact for every kilometre driven, a 17-year-old male is eight times more likely to be involved in a crash as a middle aged man”.

He added the campaign was essential to re-focus the public’s attention on the consequences of driving too fast.

Meanwhile Co Wexford students will get the opportunity this afternoon to meet survivors of serious road accidents who will recount their experiences.

The 'Just one Life' project, described as a shock and awe approach, is being rolled out to second level schools across the county and involves interactive videos and presentations.

The students at today’s demonstration will also get the opportunity to experience driving difficulties, acting as passengers in an emergency stop procedure performed by garda drivers on the Gorey bypass.

“If just one life can be saved, if just one young person’s attitude can be influenced to make that person a safer and more responsible driver, then what a wonderful result that will be from this initiative,” said Wexford County Manager Eddie Breen.