New sheriffs intownas pupils share road safety message

MORE than 250 primary school children attended the Road Safety Authority’s (RSA) annual Seatbelt Sheriff and Hi-Glo Silver Awards at Dublin Castle yesterday.

The RSA hosted children from across the country, where they celebrated their efforts in making the roads safer.

First-class students from Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál, Inchicore, Dublin 8, took the top prize in the Seatbelt Sheriff, while second class from Barryroe National School, Bandon, Cork, took first prize in the Hi-Glo Silver competition.

The awards were presented by Moyagh Murdock, chief executive of the RSA, and Assistant Commissioner Dave Sheahan, who is in charge of roads policing.

Speaking after the awards, Mr Sheahan said gardaí wanted to congratulate students on their “fantastic work” and encourage parents and teachers to continue their efforts.

He also revealed that a record 265 people were arrested for drink-driving offences over the week, including the bank holiday weekend.

Mr Sheahan said the large figure was “disappointing” and that it was an increase of 103 arrests compared with the first week of the year. “For the week ending June 5 we had 265 drunk drivers, that is the highest for any one week since the start of the year.

“Seemingly people have slipped in their ways, and gone back to some old habits, and we need to break those habits,” Mr Sheahan told the Irish Independent.

Over the weekend one person died on Irish roads, compared with six over the same period last year. Mr Sheahan said one death was one too many, but the figure was a reduction from 2017.