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TEN PEOPLE AGED between 16-20 have died on the roads so far this year and the Road Safety Authority is making a specific appeal to young people ahead of tomorrow’s Leaving Cert results.
As well as reminding those driving tomorrow that it means they are choosing not to drink or take drugs, the RSA is also urging young people not to get into a car with a driver they don’t trust.
“If you are planning on getting a lift from a friend make sure you’re satisfied that you can trust their driving,” says the RSA’s Moyagh Murdock.
Have they taken drink or drugs? It is one thing putting your life in the hands of someone who takes unnecessary risk on the road however, are you knowingly allowing someone else take an unnecessary and highly dangerous risk?
The RSA says that they are aware that the end of the Leaving Cert is time to celebrate but warn that “the level of drinking on a night like this won’t be innocent and harmless”.
Parents should also make sure to speak to their children to ensure that they knew where they are going and how they are getting home.
“Ask your son or daughter to avoid driving late at night as this is a high risk period for crashes, particularly among young people,” adds Murdoch.
The RSA is also reminding young drivers that you’re four times more likely to crash if you’re using a hand held mobile phone while driving. Drivers should also consider limiting the amount of people in their car to avoid distraction they say.
To date, 10 young adults aged between 16 and 20 have died on Irish roads this year, seven of them drivers.
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You know your getting old when you read that young people who do their leaving certs have cars now!
Sure in your day you had to walk to the ‘dishco’ and back in your barefeet in the snow.
Uphill in both directions.
You had hills, what I wouldn’t have done to have to walk up a “hill”.
I would love to see the stats on the age of drivers caught drinking & driving.
I think when it comes to drink driving the younger drivers are showing more responsibility.
I would love to see the stats on accidents caused by those who recieved their licence without having to actually do a test. Wonder what the head of the RSA would say to that.
You just have to have common sense to not get into a car with a drunk driver.
Exactly. What ever happened to parenting….
This is getting ridiculous. How oh how, are you putting your life in danger by getting into a car with a person who has had a single drink. It’s ridiculous. It’s like a nanny state. The recent learner driver stuff from the NSA is barbaric also.
More people die in Ireland by a very great multiple indeed from taking medicine inappropriately or from reactions to medicines and pharmaceutical drugs than on our roads yet no adds regarding this, no task force. It’s absolute madness and devoid of any logic.
Love the way RSA just presume if you’ve done you LC you probably have a drivers license, not likely when they make up new rules like having to get a certain number of lessons off a driver instructor which are fairly expensive. its becoming harder and harder in this country for young people to get a license, and then you have the insurance
That’s because they want less young drivers on the road, 12 mandatory lessons before you can even book your test, and now u must have an “N” ate up for 2 years after passing your test.. Next year or the year after there will be less young drivers cause there will be a new rule in.. Proper order!! Most young drivers are trying to get on the road before their friends and only show off
“N” plates**
Hilarious Hazel. One quick look at your Facebook says that you finished second level and got a car in the same year.
If what you say is indeed “proper order” then why did you get a car when you were so young?
Lovely bit of stereotyping there Hazel. Great how you just presume every young wants to spend their days having drag races, no the majority just want to get themselves from A to B.
Fair play to the RSA it’s about time the VFI found their voice, some of the local pubs have free disco (which is something) and all drinks €3 tomorrow night to celebrate the leaving results
in my day you were lucky if someone had a tractor to go in and get cans
have your say