Reports & Publications :

Reports & Publications

For more information, contact:

Road Safety Officer
Mayo County Council
Aras an Chontae
The Mall
Castlebar
Co. Mayo
Phone: 094 9047115
Email:roadsafety@mayococo.ie
9am to 5pm

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Don’t hurt the one you love’, young driver campaign

Don’t hurt the one you love’, young driver campaign

Date :14th January 2009

Mayo County Council is participating in the 2009 ‘For my girlfriend’ (FMG) young driver campaign, which will take place in the run up to Valentine’s Day on 14 February.

The annual FMG campaign reminds young people about the potentially catastrophic consequences when things go wrong while they are travelling by car. Campaign activity focuses on and around Valentine’s Day each year – the most romantic day of the year for young couples.

The 2009 campaign uses the slogan ‘Don’t hurt the one you love’. A short ‘viral’ film tells the story of a young couple out on a date when things go tragically wrong. The campaign poster, Valentine card and flyer all support the film by encouraging people to go online to view it.

The first scene of the film takes place in the boy’s car – the couple are fooling around and expressing their feelings about each other, and the boy is encouraging his girlfriend to ‘come back to his place’.

This scene is filmed by the participants themselves - neither of whom are professional actors – on hand held cameras (similar to mobile phones). It deliberately looks like a typical ‘YouTube’ film, rather than a professionally produced film.

The second scene opens with the girl in bed – but not her boyfriend’s bed, a hospital bed. Her boyfriend is crouching in the corner of the room distraught at what has happened. The film ends with the captions:

‘More girls die as passengers than as drivers’

‘Don’t hurt the one you love’

‘Take care when you’re out as a couple’

The film gives no clue as to what has happened – it is clear there has been a car crash with a catastrophic outcome, but no indication of how the crash occurred. Was the driver driving too fast, had he/they been drinking, were they wearing a seatbelt or using a mobile phone, or were they simply fooling and around and not paying attention?

This is quite deliberate; leaving the viewer to draw their own conclusion makes it more difficult for them to opt out by saying: ‘That couldn’t happen to me because I don’t speed’ (for example).

For further information about the campaign, or to view the film, go to: www.fmg.org.uk.

Children wear tattoos to keep them safe

Story Title:Children wear tattoos to keep them safe

Date : Thursday , April 09 , 2009

Preschool children will wear tattoos , taking home the message for parents to “Belt Me Up Every Time”.

Mayo County Councils Road Safety Officer said that children, especially those under five, cannot be responsible for keeping themselves safe.

Noel Gibbons said, “Children from local preschools and childcare centres are learning about the importance of seatbelt wearing and road safety over the coming weeks and they will go home wearing tattoo’s reminding parents to buckle them up safely before they set off on their journey. Teachers will speak to children in childcare centres in the coming weeks to help reinforce messages about the importance of seatbelt wearing, holding hands with adults and using the safety door to enter and exit vehicles.”

Seatbelt wearing, extremely important for our safety and that of our children. Without a safety belt three out of four people would be killed or seriously injured in a 50km head on collision.

In 2007, the RSA conducted a survey of seatbelt wearing in Ireland. The survey indicates that 30% of primary school children and 37% of secondary school children are not belted in the back seat of a car. Safety belts are proven life savers. We need to get this message out there

Children are vulnerable in the road environment and this initiative is effective because teachers tell children and children then tell parents what they have learned. Children love tattoos, and although temporary, they are a visual reminder to parents to always ensure children travel safely.

The road safety campaign “Belt Up Every Time” has the support of the local Gardai who will concentrate on non-wearing of occupant restraints over the next few weeks.

Sgt Tom Calvey Castlebar Garda head quarters said, “The non-wearing of seat belts is still one of our major causes of death and injury in crashes on our roads. When we get into a car it’s a reflex action that we put our seatbelt on, we must make sure we do the same for our Children.”

These are precious young lives and drivers are putting those lives at great risk by not ensuring they are buckled up every time.

END