THE Donegal Road Safety
Working Group is reminding motorists, cyclists and
children to take extra care on our roads as pupils
return for the new school year.
Most secondary school students are heading back to
school this week and the majority of primary school
pupils
will return within a few days. It is a time of
preparation for families as everyone gets set for
the new school year.
With all the stress and excitement that preparing
for the start of the new school year, one critically
important activity may be overlooked by parents and
that is ensuring their children are safe on their
journeys to and from school. Children are our most
vulnerable road-users, so it is up to parents and
teachers to ensure we play our part in keeping them
safe.
Brian O’Donnell, Road Safety Officer said “As
schools reopen across the county, it is important to
remember that school days bring more traffic on our
roads, buses picking up and leaving off children,
children walking and cycling to and from school,
hurrying to arrive before the school bell rings and
parents driving their children to school before
heading to work.
There will also be large numbers of children
attending school for the first time, so everyone
should ensure that this is a positive experience for
them by slowing down and taking extra care whenever
you are travelling near or past a school.
We are appealing to motorists to help schools by
driving with proper care and attention and parking
well away from no parking areas around schools.
Motorists should first and foremost take
responsibility for their own actions”.
“We are also urging parents to ensure their child is
visible by wearing a high viz vest when walking or
cycling, or when waiting for the school bus. We are
also calling on parents to be disciplined and ensure
that all children travelling in the vehicle are
using proper restraints such as child car seats or
seat belts and never overcrowd their car”. |
