[PR] RSA Renew Christmas Safety Message

Victor

http://www.rsa.ie/NEWS/News/RSA_Renew_Christmas_Safety_Message.html

RSA Renew Christmas Safety Message


December 21st, 2007

While the festive season may be a time of celebration for most people, there will be 329 families sitting down to Christmas dinner grieving the loss of a loved one as a result of a fatal road crash this year. This is why the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is renewing its appeal to all road users to take extra care this holiday season and to consider the consequences, for them and their families, of reckless behaviour.

Adding his voice to the Christmas road safety appeal Minister for Transport Mr. Noel Dempsey TD said “Road users should be particularly careful at this time of year when roads are at their busiest. Be responsible. Don’t drive if you’ve been drinking. Slow down and always wear a seat belt. Most people are getting these important live saving messages but some are not. Don’t visit tragedy on any family this Christmas.”

Mr. Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority added. “We are reminding drivers to plan ahead when going out for a drink over the holiday period. Leave the keys at home; get a taxi, minibus, public transport or take turns to designate a driver.”

“Remember, never ever drink and drive,” stated Brett. “And don’t forget that time is the only way to get alcohol out of your system, so don’t assume you are safe to drive the morning after a night out”.

The RSA would also like to remind drivers that in wet, foggy or icy conditions they should leave more space between them and the vehicle in front. Drive at a speed appropriate to the weather conditions. Always wear a seat belt and ensure all passengers front and rear are wearing theirs too.

It is also important that vehicle owners check the tread depth and pressure of their tyres and ensure their safety equipment (like spare wheels and first aid kits) are in good working order.

Mr. Brett added that people needed to extra alert over the holiday period “because people have a tendency to relax their guard when they should be paying extra attention, especially when the roads are at their busiest.”

Pedestrians and cyclists should make sure that they can be clearly seen by using high visibility clothing and reflective material – particularly if they are travelling on country roads late at night or early in the morning.

The RSA would like to ensure that this Christmas is a safe one for all road users.
We congratulate the majority of road users who have changed their behaviour in 2007 and taken personal responsibility for the way in which they use the road. You have contributed to the reduction in deaths and serious injuries on our roads this year.

We now appeal to the minority who have not yet changed. Please this festive season take personal responsibility and do not bring tragedy and trauma on those who love you or any other family

Ends

Victor

http://www.rsa.ie/NEWS/News/Safe_Cross_Code.html

Safe Cross Code’ An Ideal Stocking Filler

Wednesday 19th December - The RSA has given the updated ‘Safe Cross Code’ song which is on sale in music shops priced €1.99, a big thumbs up!
“The RSA is delighted to be associated with the launch of the safe cross code CD by Brendan Grace and the pupils of Derrywash primary school. This is a great example of young people taking a positive role in reducing road death and injury on our roads.” So said Mr. Noel Brett CEO of the Road Safety Authority about the Safe Cross Code CD.

“24 % of our road deaths involve pedestrians and a simple action such as learning and following the Safe Cross Code can and will save lives. The CD is available in record shops nationwide and we would urge festive shoppers to consider purchasing it as a stocking filler this year. It could save the life of someone you love. It might be the best €2 you spend this Christmas. There is an added benefit in that all proceeds are going to the National Rehabilitation Hospital. We ask parents to take time to teach your children the Safe Cross Code and to practice it with your children on the road. This new CD can make this fun, what better way to learn the code than to sing along and learn during journeys over the festive season.” Concluded Mr. Brett.

Santa came early for the RSA CEO today when he received a personal copy of the new Safe Cross Code CD from the big man in person.
Noel Brett congratulated the pupils of Derrywash Primary School, Mayo County Council and everyone involved in this life saving initiative.

Safe Cross Code
1. Look for a safe place to cross
2. Don’t hurry! Always STOP and WAIT
3. LOOK all around before you cross the road
4. LISTEN for any traffic
5. If traffic is coming, let it pass. Then look around again
6. When there is no traffic, walk straight across the road
7. Look and listen for traffic while you cross

Listen to the mp3 here

Victor

http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/11832456?view=Eircomnet&cat=National

Drivers put on warning
From The Irish IndependentSunday, 23rd December, 2007

ONE-in-five fatal road crashes that occurs between 6am and noon is drink related, new research shows.

It comes as the Road Safety Authority again warned motorists that heavy binge drinking means they could still be well over the limit and facing arrest on their morning journey back to work after the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

As well as an arrest and ban, binge drinking can also have a profound impact on long-term health, doctors have warned (see graphic ).

Binge drinking puts huge pressure on the brain, liver and stomach.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that more than 300 drink drivers were arrested at the height of the Christmas party season -- many of them during roadside checks the morning after the night before.

Between Monday, December 10, and Sunday, December 16, 334 incidents of drink driving were recorded. A further 351 people were arrested over the previous seven days.

More than 300 people have lost their lives on Irish roads this year. Pedestrians form a significant proportion of road deaths with 77 involved in fatal accidents during this year up to the middle of this month.

Road Safety Authority chairman Gay Byrne has warned that, while drivers may leave the car at home when they go drinking at night time, driving the morning after is becoming a more pronounced problem.

Gardai have also admitted that 40pc of people caught for drink driving are foreign nationals.

Senior officers have reiterated that they will continue to prioritise road safety enforcement activities over the New Year. All those arrested for drink driving face an automatic driving ban for one year or more, depending on the level of alcohol in their blood and any previous convictions.

Meanwhile, as thousands take to the roads to get home for Christmas, the AA have warned of increased traffic volumes on cross-country routes. The busiest periods for traffic are expected to be between early afternoon and evening on Christmas Eve.

"Our advice is to avoid these peak times and if you are taking to the road, give yourself plenty of time for your journey," said Nicola Hudson, AA Roadwatch controller.

A major concern for drivers in the winter is icy roads and dangerous driving conditions which may be prevalent over the Christmas and New Year holiday, according to the Met Service. That could bring treacherous road conditions, including black ice.

Over the Christmas period, there is likely to be another few nights of very cold temperatures and drivers are warned to be aware of the dangers of ground frost and icy patches.

Niall1234

God, totally forgot all this stuff.

Was planning to get appaulingly drunk over christmas, and then test the top speed of an M3 in a residential area.


Does the RSA do anything but put Gay Byrne in front of the media spouting exactly the same stuff constantly.

Victor

Niall1234 wrote: »

Does the RSA do anything but put Gay Byrne in front of the media spouting exactly the same stuff constantly.

Yes, they do.

http://www.rsa.ie/ABOUT_US/ABOUT_US/Navigation.html

The RSA will be a body under the aegis of the Department of Transport will be responsible for-
* promotion of road safety
* accident and road safety research
* driver testing and licensing
* vehicle standards
* road haulage enforcement functions
* registration of driving instructors
* driver vocational training
* compulsory basic training for motorcyclists

E92

Niall1234 wrote: »

God, totally forgot all this stuff.

Was planning to get appaulingly drunk over christmas, and then test the top speed of an M3 in a residential area.


Does the RSA do anything but put Gay Byrne in front of the media spouting exactly the same stuff constantly.

If they want to be taken seriously they'd sack him. Sure as you in one of the many threads on Motors about speeding/Autobahnen:

Niall1234 wrote:

As pointed out in the thread I started, Gay Byrne has never taken or passed the Category B licence test in a car.

On the flip side, Gay has no problem saying that we need to take untested and unqualified learner drivers off the road. I agree with him, but there's more than a tad of hypocracy with his statements.

I thought I'd mention it for the benefit of those who don't read the Motors forum.

Hotblack Desiato

E92 wrote: »

If they want to be taken seriously they'd sack him. Sure as you in one of the many threads on Motors about speeding/Autobahnen:

Niall1234 wrote:

As pointed out in the thread I started, Gay Byrne has never taken or passed the Category B licence test in a car.

On the flip side, Gay has no problem saying that we need to take untested and unqualified learner drivers off the road. I agree with him, but there's more than a tad of hypocracy with his statements.

I thought I'd mention it for the benefit of those who don't read the Motors forum.

Gay Byrne has passed the Category A test and also the Rospa advanced motorcycling test. Since when were car users the only ones qualified to speak about road safety? :mad: