This is the hard-hitting Road Safety message being delivered to Donegal students in the Aura Leisure Centre Letterkenny on Tuesday 14th October at 11.00am & 1.30pm and a further show on Wednesday 15th October at 11.00am. The show, which is in its seventh year, is hosted by Donegal County Council in association with the Donegal Road Safety Working Group (DRSWG). Almost 3,000 young people will witness how a night out ends in tragedy for a 17-year old boy who has just passed his driving test.
The success of the show can be gauged in that all Secondary Schools in County Donegal since the show was for launched have sent their Transition year, Leaving Cert Applied and fourth year students to the show. Additionally, Youthreach Centres, ETB participants also attend. The impact of the show has also been acknowledged in Northern Ireland with the Police Service of Northern Ireland bringing schools from Derry and Strabane. Despite schools been extremely busy and having to cope with reduced budgets, School Principals consistently advise Donegal County Council that they believe that this is one of the most important initiatives hosted to educate their young students for the life ahead of them.
The story is not performed by actors. It is told by a Garda Officer, a Paramedic, a Fire Officer, an Emergency Consultant, the Mother of a victim tragically killed in a road traffic collision and Richard Alcorn from Dunfanaghy, who was paralysed following a road traffic collision a number of years ago. The narrative is interspersed with music, video clips, television advertisements and is hosted by Charlie Collins.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, John Campbell said, “We believe that this show will impact strongly on the young people attending and will encourage them to drive safely so it doesn’t happen to them. The show is part of Donegal County Council’s ongoing commitment to improving Road Safety in the County. It targets groups who are most at risk - young people who are just beginning to drive and think they are safe on our roads. We want to positively influence these young drivers as they start out on what will hopefully be a long and safe motoring career.”
The Road Show is designed to appeal to young people. The venue is set up to give a nightclub like atmosphere with a local radio DJ playing the latest music. After a short while, the ambience changes as the Road Show story begins to unfold and the full horror of what could happen in a collision is played out in front of them.
Brian O’Donnell, Road Safety Officer, Donegal County Council commented: "It is a sad fact that almost everyone in this County knows someone who was killed or seriously injured in traffic collisions in the County. This show offers our young people the opportunity to learn about the consequences of poor driving behaviour on our roads. Our hope is that this show will have a positive influence on them and help to keep them safe on our roads in the future”.
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