The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has teamed up with An Garda Síochána to launch a campaign promoting child safety while driving.
Their motivation comes from a recent study showing the alarming rates of unrestrained children on the road.
According to the RSA’s research, one in ten children do not wear seatbelts while travelling in the back seat of a car.
After a year of observations, the study found that 93% of children were wearing seatbelts.
However, when observing children in the rear of the vehicle only, this dropped to 89%.
Authorities are urging parents everywhere to be extremely cautious about this safety issue and ask that they regularly check to make sure their child has not unbuckled his belt during the drive.
The organisation has just started their road safety back to school campaign and plans to distribute free high visibility vests to every child starting school in September.
Today, we launch our road safety back to school campaign for 2018 with the help of the Seatbelt Sheriff. Research shows that 1 in 10 children are still not being restrained when travelling in the back seat. #BacktoSchool pic.twitter.com/uKLgMSqCDR
— RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) August 23, 2018
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross said: “With children returning to school over the coming weeks, traffic levels will increase, and motorists need to be mindful of our most vulnerable road users.
“I am asking parents to ensure any child travelling in their vehicle is using their seatbelt or the correct child restraint, and to educate children to be vigilant when out walking or cycling to school.”
Assistant Commissioner of the National Roads Policing Unit, David Sheahan, reminded parents of the current seatbelt and carseat regulations:
“By law, all children under 150cms in height or 36kgs in weight must use a child restraint system (CRS) suitable for their height and weight while travelling in a car. Drivers have a legal responsibility to ensure that all passengers under 17 are appropriately restrained in the vehicle.
“The penalty for drivers who permit a child to travel in a vehicle without being properly restrained is 3 penalty points and €60 fixed charge.”
It is so important that we are aware of this road safety issue and make sure that our children are restrained properly.
Of the 157 fatalities on Irish roads last year, one in five drivers and passengers killed were not wearing a seatbelt, according to the RSA.
Schools that would like to participate in the road safety campaign can register here for ‘back to school’ packs.
We hope that families continue to check their child’s seatbelt and stay safe on the roads, especially during this next month as children return to school.
