Local students saddle up for awards

STUDENTS from Virgin Mary Girls National School, Ballymun, have been praised for their success at the Road Safety Authority’s annual

‘Hi Glo Silver’ awards.

The second class pupils (pictured right) won first prize and were presented with their award at an event in Dublin Castle earlier this month, which they attended with proud teacher, Roisin Shaughnessy.

The primary school students were among the 200 schoolchildren from 10 primary schools around the country who were rewarded for their outstanding contribution to keeping Ireland’s roads safe.

The RSA’s new Chief Executive, Moyagh Murdock, commended the children for their creativity and commitment to road safety during the prize-giving ceremony.

“Today’s ceremony demonstrates the outstanding commitment of young people across Ireland to making our roads safer,

? she said.

“Since 2004, over 55,000 classes around the country have taken part in RSA

‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and

‘Hi Glo Silver’ programmes and it is the hard work and commitment of these children, their parents and their teachers that has helped to make Irish roads among the safest in Europe.

?

The competition is now in its tenth year of encouraging children to learn vital road safety skills, such as putting on their seatbelt and wearing high visibility clothing.

An Garda Síochána Chief Superintendent Michael O’Sullivan attended the ceremony and congratulated the young students for their efforts.

“An Garda Síochána is committed to supporting any initiative that helps our youngest and most vulnerable road-users to learn vital road safety skills,

“I want to extend my congratulations to all of the students here today on their fantastic work, and urge parents and teachers around the country to build on the work being done in schools and at home by demonstrating safe and responsible road use at all times.

?

The

‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and

‘Hi-Glo Silver’ programmes are fun, educational road safety programmes for first and second class children in primary school.

Children in first class become

‘Seatbelt Sheriffs’ by taking a pledge to wear their seatbelts and making sure that everyone else in the car is buckled up too.

‘Hi-Glo Silver’ encourages second-class students to wear bright, high visibility clothing when they are out walking or cycling. They pledge to wear high visibility jackets, armbands or belts and remind their parents, family and friends to do the same.

Further information on the campaigns is available at www.seatbeltsheriff.ie.