A new safety program to teach Transition Year (TY) students how to drive while raising awareness of unsafe behavior behind the wheel will begin Ireland, in September. RSA has now developed a new teacher-led road safety programme.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is introducing a safety scheme in secondary schools in the face of increasing road accidents and deaths. The 10 teaching units will start in post-primary schools this coming September and focus on preparing students to learn to drive and sensitizing them about the dangers of engaging in unsafe behaviour. Education Minister Norma Foley has been in talks with the RSA since last year to develop the new short course.
Several options were discussed including giving TY students a certificate that would help their CV. Those who complete the modules are given a voucher to reduce the cost of the driving test, or mark the driver theory test. Can include and so on. The introduction of the program will be phased and the RSA is working with a number of partners to deliver it. It will be officially launched by the end of August.
A total of 119 people have died on Ireland's roads so far this year, 14 more than the same time last year. The toll includes 20 pedestrians, seven cyclists and three e-scooters who lost their lives. A total of 56 children died and 852 were seriously injured on Irish roads between 2014 and 2022.
