Educate young people about road safety

HOW often have we woken to the news that more young lives have been lost as the result of a tragic car accident the night before? Far too often over the years, and still the numbers continue to rise with Shiva Devine and Conall McAleer the latest tragic victims following last weekend’s accident in Bundoran.

That so many young people have lost their lives on our roads is both deeply saddening and unacceptable.

Speaking movingly at Shiva Devine’s funeral yesterday, Fr Joe O’Donnell remembered her partner and her toddler son in his prayers. But he also called for greater awareness when it comes to safety on our roads.

When we are young we imagine that we are indestructible, irrespective of the obstacles and dangers that life throws at us. It’s an outlook that simply comes with the territory of youth. And yet, as far too many families on this island who have lost loved ones in road accidents are aware, that is not the reality.

We do our best, as parents and teachers, and through State-sponsored campaigns, to alert young people to the dangers of smoking and alcohol abuse. We convey that message, when it comes to these health issues, both clearly and unequivocally. These are life-threatening dangers, we say. You are not immune. So be aware.

Similarly we advise young people about personal safety on a night out. There are guidelines to be adhered to, procedures to be followed.

But when it comes to road safety this is not the case. We teach small children to look both right and left before crossing the road but that is where the guidelines appear to end. Yet in reality, this is only the beginning.

When it comes to road safety – particularly in relation to driving – we must make our young people much more aware of the dangers. We need to introduce a proper education programme that spells out the dangers so that, finally, they will understand that they are not indestructible.