Children to get high-visibility vests at start of school year

Some 80,000 nervous children starting school for the first time will be given a high-visibility vest as part of a road safety campaign, it was revealed today.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) said the luminous vests would be delivered to primary schools nationwide for all junior infant pupils.

Chief executive Noel Brett also called on parents and teachers to make road safety a priority on their child’s back-to-school checklist.

“Children are the most vulnerable of our road users so it is really important that they are ’streetwise’ about road safety,” he said.

“Parents and guardians should make a real effort to demonstrate good road safety behaviour at all times as your child will learn from your example.

“So, if your child walks or cycles to school, take them on the route in advance and make sure they know where they are going.

“If they travel by car or bus, make sure they know how important it is to put their seatbelt on at all times.”

The vests, sponsored by ESB, are part of the RSA’s wider back-to- school campaign, which includes the distribution of safety packs to every primary and secondary school.

Junior education minister Sean Haughey said it was important to start road safety education at a young age.

“So I would ask parents, guardians and teachers nationwide to make road safety a priority, both at home and in school, and teach children the knowledge and skills to be safe on our roads,” he added.