For the seventh year running, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and ESB Networks will distribute free high visibility vests to every child starting school in Ireland this September.
To date, this partnership has provided 800,000 children throughout the country with high visibility vests. Schools can register online for the RSA’s ‘Back to School’ road safety packs which will be sent to primary schools nationwide over the coming months.
“We are delighted to be working with the RSA again to ensure that school children are visible on the roads,” said Marguerite Sayers, Managing Director, ESB Networks DAC. “Wearing a high-vis vest is so important whether you are walking, cycling or travelling on the school bus. We would encourage all schools to register for the ‘Back to School’ packs and be safe, by being seen.”
RSA and ESB Networks are also calling on parents, guardians and teachers to ensure road safety, in particular cycle safety, is on the lesson plan as children return to school.
To provide practical cycle safety and skills training to promote competent and confident cyclists, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the RSA and Cycling Ireland, with input from central and local agencies and other groups have developed Cycle Right, the National Standard for Cycle Training.
“Now that the children are returning from holidays and going back to school it is important to remind motorists to be mindful of our most vulnerable road-users,” said Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross. “We would encourage parents and teachers to use our new cycle training programme to educate children to be vigilant when out walking or cycling to school and ensure they have all the correct safety gear; high vis jackets, lights and helmets for doing so. Cycling or walking to and from school is a healthy activity and one we would hope schools and parents will support. Keeping our children safe as they travel must be a priority for all of us.”
