Road Safety - A MUST for Young Drivers

One of the most anticipated events is coming up and students in Ireland are waiting at the edge of their seats. Yes, the examinations are ending soon and a lot of celebrations, parties, and get-togethers have already been planned and set.

In line with this, on 14th June 2013, the Minister of Transport, Tourism and Sports, Mr. Leo Varadkar in conjunction with the RSA (Road Safety Authority) have advised young drivers to rightfully observe road safety as they celebrate their much awaited shindigs this coming weekend.

There is a wide array of resources available to show the distressing casualty data among young drivers. Specifically, it was found out that 8% of all road death victims this year are between the ages of 16-20. Because of this alarming rate, Minister Varadkar stresses the importance and prioritization of road safety to junior certified students.

But why are young drivers at a higher risk of getting into vehicular mishaps?

Let’s take a look at the hard facts.

• Inexperience. Research has shown that the combination of inexperience and driving at a young age put these drivers at a very high risk. 
• Overconfidence. Young drivers tend to pick up on the physical skills needed for driving pretty quickly and therefore think that they have already mastered it. They take full control with the idea that a car crash will NEVER happen to them. 
• Poor risk assessment. Though some hazards can be quickly identified, some are not so obvious. Young drivers often exhibit poorer reacting skills which puts them into a higher risk. 

With that in mind, Minister Varadkar strongly expressed the need for students to inform their parents about their plans in advance including details on how they will reach their destinations. Noel Brett fully supports the Minister and intensely encourages parents to make sure that their children stay safe on the roads as well. He even added that parents should go the extra mile to pick up their children when necessary to avoid any untoward events from happening.

Both Brett and Varadkar recommended young motorists to follow these tips prior to upcoming celebrations:

• Do not even think about driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 
• Fully concentrate on your driving and avoid using your mobile phone while on the road. 
• Always buckle up. Your seat belt may just save your life. 
• Instead of driving, consider using public transportation to reach your destination. 
• Make sure that you are accompanied by a full license holder to guide you while driving. 
• Put in mind that young drivers are at high risk of getting into vehicular problems. Safety should be your number one priority at all times. 

In addition, the RSA also provided advice to both young motorists and their parents.

• Parents should strongly advice their children to avoid driving late in the night. This is the time frame when most accidents occur among young people. 
• Always put your seatbelt on regardless if you are at the backseat or sitting in front. 
• Trust your instincts and do not get into a vehicle if you feel that the driver is unfit to drive. Speak up to avoid getting compromised. 
• Do not even attempt to use your mobile device while driving. Research has shown that there is a much higher probability of getting into a crash when the driver uses a hand-held device while on the act of driving. 
• Follow the road rules and be aware of speed limits. 

Convincing young drivers about the significance of road safety is not an easy task. This is one of the main reasons why Brett and Varadkar strongly urge parents to help them in this cause. With teamwork between the parents and the proper authorities, road safety education can be targeted and put into action. In turn, young motorists would realize that road safety indeed comes first and make it a top priority while traversing Ireland’s roads.

With measures and efforts combined, it is guaranteed that this joint campaign will create a big impact on the unacceptable level of crashes, deaths and other serious injuries involving young drivers. This will definitely mark the beginning of a safer, more organized driving culture in the years to come.

If you are looking to book driving lessons in Dublin for you sons and daughters as a reward for their hard work during their exams then give us a call at the RSA Driving School. We have a range of Driving Lesson Gift Vouchers available to suit all situations.

Thanks for reading and drive safe.