Road safety awareness event in Nenagh

Tipperary Fire & Rescue Service, in collaboration with the Roads section of Tipperary Co Council, An Garda Síochána, the HSE and the Road Safety Authority, recently held a road safety awareness event for school students in Nenagh.
Titled ‘Road Safety Matters’, the event was attended by senior cycle students from local schools at the Abbey Court Hotel.
The event was geared towards students from Transition Year through to Sixth Year that are likely to be obtaining a driving licence in the near future. It was attended by a number of speakers from the emergency services who talked about, amongst other things, the effect of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and the tragic result of road traffic accidents.
But, perhaps the most compelling presentation was by that of a family member who was affected by a road traffic accident, suffering the tragic loss of her son. Christina Donnelly’s son Brendan from Waterford was killed by a drunk driver in October 2009.
She since set up the ‘Brendan’s Law’ campaign to prevent drink drivers involved in fatal accidents from driving while they await a court date.
In the car park of the hotel, students were talked through a simulated road traffic collision. Throughout the day the Road Safety Authority’s road shuttle and roll-over simulator was onsite, allowing students and teachers alike to experience the latest simulations and immersive technologies.
Students were able to witness first-hand the dangers of not wearing your seatbelt in the roll-over simulator. They could also practice their driving skills in the realistic car simulator or practice the Driver Theory Test on one of the interactive touch screens. RSA staff were on hand throughout, taking questions and offering advice.