[PR] Bus Éireann - Summer Safety Road Show

Victor

http://www.buseireann.ie/site/news_centre/press_centre.asp?action=view&news_id=545

Summer Safety Road Show

Customised school buses operating as mini cinemas will be touring the country over the summer months, in a bid to spread safety messages to students - with a little help from Dustin the Turkey.

A nationwide road show campaign has been devised by Bus Éireann, aimed at encouraging children to “belt up safely” whilst travelling on the school bus.

Bus Éireann operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of the Department of Education and Science.

* A recent Bus Éireann survey revealed that only 25% of second level students are wearing seatbelts provided for their use on school transport. 75% of primary students are complying with the requirement to wear their seatbelts.
* It is now the law to wear seatbelts where they are fitted. Seatbelts are now fitted on all school buses operating within the Department of Education School Transport Scheme.

Bus Éireann spokeswoman, Erica Roseingrave said: “The main objective of the Bus Éireann School Transport Summer Safety Roadshow is to communicate to parents and children that wearing a seatbelt is vital for your safety. We especially hope to target second level students and achieve greater compliance amongst this group as we know they are particularly reluctant to wear seatbelts.

“There are many summer agricultural shows nationwide and they are an ideal forum to promote safe behaviour on school transport. Agricultural shows are popular family events in rural communities, where most of the school-going population use school transport.”

The first Bus Éireann School Transport Summer Safety Roadshow event takes place on Saturday June 16th at the Agricultural Show in Gorey Co Wexford. From there, a 21-venue whistle stop tour of other popular agricultural shows throughout the country takes place, ending in Mountbellew Co Galway on Sept 8th.

Bus Éireann school bus drivers, inspectors and local school transport staff will crew the bus at each location and will answer queries parents may have about best safety practice relating to school transport and planning school transport for their children.

Bus Éireann has also brought on board safety experts from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) who can advise parents on how to enhance the safety of their children prior to boarding and after alighting the school bus.

* Statistically speaking, the majority of accidents involving school children do not take place on board the school bus, which is one of the safest ways for children to travel to and from school.
* Statistically accidents are far more likely to occur when the children are en route to catch the bus (often prior to boarding) or once they alight from the vehicle (on completion of the journey). The ‘before’ and ‘after’ elements of the journey are the most hazardous. This is also borne out by international experience.

New school buses have been turned into miniature cinemas for the roadshow and parents and children will be invited on board to view an entertaining DVD featuring Dustin the Turkey. The 15-minute DVD features Dustin with a host of school children and stresses the Do’s and Don’ts of School Bus Safety, stressing in particular the importance of wearing your seat belt. The DVD has already been sent to every primary and second school in the country.

Letters promoting the road shows have been sent to local schools in the catchments areas of the agricultural shows and Transport Liaison Officers of the Department of Education (TLOs) have also been advised.

During the events, safety features of the new purpose-built school buses will be demonstrated, including special emergency doors which activate when a bus is stopped and cannot be activated when the bus is in motion. A new prototype system of ‘Warning Flashing Lights’ currently being tested by Bus Éireann will also be demonstrated. It is designed to warn other road users that schoolchildren are in the vicinity of the school bus and to exercise caution when the system is activated for this reason.

At the events, children will also be invited to take part in art competitions and there will be prizes, giveaways and promotions.

A spokesperson said: “The Bus Éireann School Transport Summer Safety Roadshow is a new and innovative development which builds on several successful initiatives already in place to urge students to belt up safely such as TV, radio and DVD campaigns. It is hoped to put in place additional measures for the beginning of School Year 2007.”

The Bus Éireann School Transport Summer Safety Roadshow will travel to the following Agricultural Shows:

Date |Location
|
June 2007
Saturday 16th | Gorey, Co Wexford
Saturday 23rd and Sun 24th | Charleville, Co Cork
Sunday 24th | Athlone, Co Westmeath
Saturday 30th | Finn Valley, Co Donegal
|
|
July 2007 |
Sunday 1st | Bailieborough, Co Cavan
| Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Sunday 8th | Mullingar, Co Westmeath
Saturday 14th | Granard, Co Longford
Thursday 19th | Carbery, Co Cork
Saturday 21st | Carnew, Co Wicklow
Sunday 22nd | Ossory, Rathdowney, Co Laois
Saturday 28th | Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim
Sunday 29th | Arva, Co Cavan
|
|
August 2007 |
Sunday 5th | Oldcastle, Co Meath
Monday 6th | Castleblaney, Co Monaghan
Sunday 12th | Tullamore, Co Offaly
Saturday 18th | Roscommon
Sunday 19th | Dundalk, Louth and Tullow, Carlow
Wednesday 22nd | Virginia, Co Cavan
Saturday 25th | Moate, Co Westmeath
Wednesday 29th | Bansha, Co Tipperary
|
September 2007 |
Saturday 1st | Scariff, Co Clare
Sunday 2nd | Ballinrobe, Co Mayo
Saturday 8th | Mountbellew, Co Galway