[Article] Transition Students to Learn some Drivers Education

mike65 · 25-07-2006 5:20pm #1

from unison

TRANSITION year students are to get a special course on road safety, writes Gene McKenna.

It will be part of their official curriculum.

The Government has asked the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to devise a suitable course.

And it could be be available for the next school year.

Two road safety education officers are to be appointed to help the campaign - to cut road deaths among young people.

The move has been approved by the Cabinet sub-committee on road safety on the recommendation of Education Minister Mary Hanafin. It comes as official concerns have risen about how the number of young drivers killed on the roads in the first half of the year has escalated.

The minister told the Irish Independent last night that she has contacted the RSA asking them to draw up a 10-week course, which could be used during transition year at no cost to the students.

But Ms Hanafin does not envisage driving lessons being involved in the course, as she believes they would be expensive for students and not all parents could afford it.

Well it can't hurt, and I hope (but doubt) one 'lesson' involves talking to a crash victim.

Mike.

Chris_533976 · 25-07-2006 6:23pm

Good idea. As long as its done properly and not just a "Read the rules of the road in class" type thing, assuming the shoddy state of that book.

Driving lessons might cause problems though, due to age.

Vorsprung · 25-07-2006 6:55pm

AFAIK many (or most) students in the country don't do Transition Year.

Stark · 25-07-2006 7:11pm

Practically everyone I know did Transition year.

Chris_533976 · 25-07-2006 7:42pm

Its optional in a lot of places, but after doing it, Id recommend it.

lostexpectation · 25-07-2006 7:48pm

I wonder what the stat are for driver ability and/or accidents based on the age you allowed to drive in various countries,

I guess you can start (to learn) to drive when you're 17 here (yes?) so most people are 15/16 in TY?

I wonder if there is pedestrian or bikesafety course, in primary maybe?

Stark · 25-07-2006 7:51pm

lostexpectation wrote:

I wonder if there is pedestrian or bikesafety course, in primary maybe?

"Stop! Look for a safe place. Don't hurry, stop and wait"

Chris_533976 · 25-07-2006 8:49pm

"The Safe Cross Code"

robinph · 25-07-2006 10:10pm

Chris_533976 wrote:

"The Safe Cross Code"

The only character guaranteed to get kids to pay attention when crossing the road is Darth Vader, sorry I meant David Prowse.

westtip · 26-07-2006 2:16pm

Chris_533976 wrote:

Its optional in a lot of places, but after doing it, Id recommend it.

I wouldn't let anymore of my kids do it - our eldest did it and it was a complete waste of time, it makes it very difficult to get back into the swing of things when they return to do their leaving cert. Better off sticking their nose to the grindstone, securing a college place with the leaving cert they get and then working for a year either abroad or in Ireland or they would be better off doing some form of national service the year after they left school, instead of sponging off their parents for an extra year at school when they are about 15/16 it just gives a bunch of spotty oiks the chance to doss around for the year, Transition year produces a load of lazy dossers which parents have to subsidise - our protege this year went to northern spain for five days with the school, a month in France, 3 weeks in the geeltacht, numerous other special projects costing 50 here 50 there. Never again. Complete waste of time and money.

[Article] Transition Students to Learn some Drivers Education

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