This article is from page 33 of the 2007-10-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 33 JPG
A KILRUSH councillor has called on the minister for education and sci- ence and the minister for transport to introduce a module on road safety on the SPHE curriculum in second level schools.
Councillor Collie Sweeney (in- dependent) claims that the module could help save lives, as the number of young people being killed on the country’s roads is an unacceptable tragedy.
The town councillor said that fig-
ures he received from the depart- ment of transport showed that more young men and women are dying on the road than any other category.
Between 2001 and 2005 fifty 16 to 20-year-olds were killed in traffic ac- cidents. As many as 30 people aged between 21 and 25 lost their lives in the same manner during the same period of time.
““Itis time to get the message home,” said Cllr Sweeney and he maintain the best way to do that is through the schools.
“On our news bulletins we are
treated to a daily dose of carnage and human self destruction on our roads. Have we grown indifferent to the number of young men in particular who are fatally injured on our roads and whose deaths bring huge tragedy and loss to their families,” he said. “This year alone 253 people have lost their lives on Irish roads. Almost 100 of these relate to young people between the ages of 18 and 35 years. Even those who do survive will be wheelchair bound for the rest of their lives. Those who are maimed and in- jured are placing a big strain on our
health and emergency services.”
“T believe that it 1s an education matter. Schools have an important role to play in educating our young people about safe driving. Cars are lethal weapons. Young people think the tragedy only knocks on the neighbour’s door.”
This unfortunately is untrue. Many decent families have had their lives turned upside down by an early morning knock on the door.
The killing and dying must end now.