Volvo Trucks has long been the industry leader in the field of passive safety. For example in 1959, Volvo introduced the three-point safety belt – Volvo’s gift to the world. Today it’s a standard throughout the automotive industry and has made the world a better place by saving more lives in traffic than any other technical feature.

“The injury-reducing effect of the seatbelt is hard to beat when compared to other safety devices, but work still remains to be done: to get all truck drivers to use it,” says Lennart Svenson, former Head of Volvo Truck Accident Research Team at Volvo Truck Corporation.

Another good example of passive safety is a cab structure that gives enough survival space after an accident. Volvo Truck Corporation introduced pendulum-tested cabs in the 1960s and the crash-tested Volvo cab introduced a new level of safety to trucks, together with good ergonomics for its time.

Early traffic-safety development had a focus on passive safety, reducing injuries. For heavy-duty vehicles, the “golden age” of passive safety was from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Other milestones that stand out in the development of passive safety systems are the energy-absorbing steering wheel and under-run protections, which prevent the passenger car to end up under the truck in a frontal collision.

Truck safety was intensified in 1969 when Volvo started an accident research team manned by Kjell Högström and Lennart Svensson. During the 1970s Volvo Truck Corporation released the first external reports based on accident investigation and, as a result of this research, reinforcements in the doors and energy absorbing instrument panel were added.

Active safety, preventing accidents, was for many years synonymous with braking efficiency. Focus on steering and behaviours on the road were added. At the end of the 1990s, a system with the aim to assist the driver was introduced. Lately there has been more focus on detecting and acting on hazards that the driver might miss. The interface between man and machine becomes more and more important.

“It is a waste constructing a technically perfect vehicle if it is not adapted to humans and the traffic environment,” concludes Svenson.

Minister Varadkar said he was very happy to be able to make the announcement at a time when funding is so constrained. “This funding will be used to improve safety at major black-spots, such as removing bad bends or hazardous conditions. In a number of cases the funding will be used to remove bottlenecks and tackle congestion. Given that Exchequer funding is currently so limited, my main priority this year is to maintain roads and prioritise safety projects, followed by road improvements, and finally by new projects.”

The works will be conducted under the NRA’s Work Programme for 2012 and are set to support work levels equivalent to around 1,200 jobs. Work will start on around 30 of these schemes this year, selected by the NRA. A further 30 projects will be brought through the planning process, with construction starting if and when funding permits.

Meanwhile, hundreds of other small-scale projects will start this year involving new road surfaces, minor safety works and improved signage. Some €18 million has been allocated to small-scale safety schemes, with another €18 million allocated for remedial works on bridges.

Construction has started on the following projects and will continue this year:

· N3 Belturbet Bypass, Co. Cavan;

· N4 Downs Grade Separation, Co. Westmeath;

· N5 Longford Bypass, Co. Longford;

· N22/N69 Tralee Bypass;

· N25 Cork South Ring Road Grade Separation, Cork City Council;

· N52 Carrickbridge to Dalystown, Co. Westmeath.

Separately, construction is expected to start on the following projects in 2012:

· N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass, Co. Roscommon;

· N7 Newlands Cross upgrade, South Dublin;

· N11 Arklow to Rathnew, Co. Wicklow.

NRA CEO Fred Barry said: ‘We are delighted that even during these constrained times we will be able to carry out essential local improvements and tackle some of the worst safety challenges on the legacy road network’.

The poll question which specifically hones in on motorists classified as more vulnerable such as a lone female, a parent travelling with children and an elderly motorist, shows that an older driver is most likely to illicit a sympathetic response. 60% of the 12,300 drivers polled by AA Rescue indicated they would stop to assist an older driver whose vehicle had broken down. A figure, which increased to 71% among the poll’s male participants.

A high number of respondents overall, 57%, were also willing to help out someone stranded with young children in their car. Again this figure was notably higher among male drivers at 67%. 55% of the men polled said they would stop and help a lone female motorist who visibly needed assistance while just 4% of women indicated that they would do the same for a lone male driver. One sentiment which emerged several times during the AA Rescue poll was that some men simply wouldn’t be comfortable attending a lone female without another woman present for fear they may be perceived as a threat.

Other respondents indicated that they’d rather play it safe and leave it up to the professionals or Gardaí as a precautionary measure in case foul play was at hand. The poll’s comments section also identifies a degree of camaraderie among motorcyclists with a number of participants stating they would always stop to assist a fellow biker.

Chivalry is alive and well in counties Donegal and Kerry, the AA Rescue poll results suggest. At 61% and 59% respectively, a slightly higher percentage of drivers in the two counties than in the remaining twenty four said they’d come to the aid of a damsel in distress so to speak. The poll results also reveal that Donegal drivers are in fact most likely to stop and lend a hand across all categories of drivers featured in the AA Rescue poll. Inversely drivers in Kildare and Meath were identified as least likely to intervene.

The study which looks at incidents involving vulnerable road users also indicates that 11% of motorists have been involved in similar incidents involving a pedestrian or an animal.

The AA Motor Insurance study which polled a sample of more than 12,500 drivers in Ireland equally reveals that 5% have either hit or almost hit a motorcyclist while 0.7% said they’d done the same with someone on horseback.

Without exception, across all categories of vulnerable road users included in the AA Motor Insurance study (cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, horse riders and animals), a higher percentage of men than women stated they had a near miss or collision within the last two years. 14% of the male drivers polled for example compared to 11% of females said they’d collided or had a near miss with a cyclist.

The AA Motor Insurance study also looks at incident rates by county and by light and weather conditions. Most notably in relation to weather hazards the highest number of incidents, 17%, occurred when raining while 4% occurred during fog or mist according to poll results. “Naturally road surfaces are slicker and visibility can be affected during downpours, cyclists may swerve to avoid a puddle you won’t necessarily see, and pedestrians will be anxious to get out of the rain so motorists should exercise extreme care and expect the unexpected,” says Conor Faughnan, Director of Policy, AA Ireland.

48% of incidents reported to the AA occurred during daylight, 20% at dusk and 28% during darkness. “Given that the peak traffic volumes occur during daylight hours, the number of incidents occurring after dark is disproportionately high,” says Faughnan. “Cyclists travelling after dark should make sure to wear reflective clothing or accessories and have lights at the front and the rear. Pedestrians should also stay visible after dark with reflective and light colored clothing, stick to footpath where possible and avoid distractions such as texting while walking.”

The Minister wants highway authorities, mapping providers and satnav manufacturers to work more closely to ensure everything possible is done to make sure the right vehicles are on the right roads.

At present, it can take months for map updates to make their way from local councils to satnavs. As a result, thousands of drivers follow out-of-date maps, often because they are not aware they can update their maps.

The summit will take place in early March, a month before local authorities gain important new powers to decide how their roads appear on maps, helping them to better direct traffic.

Gale force southwest to west winds during Tuesday with gusts of 100 km/h in many places, but some damaging gusts of between 120 and 140 km/h are expected in exposed coastal and hilly areas of the Northwest and North. Showers will turn wintry in places also today.

Mr. Noel Brett, CEO, RSA had this advice for motorists “Roads will be busy today with people getting back to work or travelling to airports and ports after the bank holiday weekend and festive season. I would ask each and every one of you to allow extra time to reach your destination, keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front and adjust your speed in windy or wet conditions.”

The RSA is asking road users to take extra care in these strong winds and have issued the following advice:

Beware of objects being blown out onto the road. Expect the unexpected.

Watch out for falling/fallen debris on the road and vehicles veering across the road

Control of a vehicle may be affected by strong cross winds. High sided vehicles and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds

Allow extra space between you and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists

Drive with dipped headlights at all times

Monitor radio weather broadcasts while travelling

Advice to Pedestrians & Cyclists;

Consider postponing your trip unless it is absolutely necessary

Be seen. Wear bright clothing with reflective armbands or a reflective belt

Take extra care when near traffic or crossing the road in extremely windy conditions as a sudden gust of wind could blow you into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

Walk on a footpath, not in the street. Walk on the right hand side of the road, facing traffic if there are no footpaths

For advice on severe weather driving tips please see severe weather advice on the RSA website or check out the RSA Facebook and Twitter pages. To check weather updates visit Met Eireann’s website www.met.ie

The new facility on www.rsa.ie allows truck drivers to apply for a driver card, renew an expired card, replace a lost or stolen card, or exchange an EU driver card for an Irish one. You can also track an existing application online.

Benefits of applying online:

It’s cheaper

Online applications get processing priority

Quick and easy online payment facility

Ability to track your application online

The checklists recommend periodical inspections to be integrated into vehicle maintenance, which can ensure the early identification of vehicle conditions likely to cause a fire.

The checklists are available online in English, French and Russian.

The IRU truck driver’s checklists give tips and best practices to ensure the highest safety and environmental driving standards, at all times.

For more information log on to www.iru.org

Mr. Noel Brett, CEO, RSA had this message for road users, “I would appeal to all drivers to drive safely this Christmas by slowing down, not driving while impaired, through either drink, drugs or fatigue and to always wear a seatbelt. Pedestrians and cyclists need to take special care when out and about this Christmas. With fewer hours of daylight, wear something reflective. Be safe by being seen!”

Pedestrians and cyclists should make sure that they can be clearly seen by using high visibility reflective material such as an arm-band, Sam Browne belt or high-vis jacket – particularly if they are travelling on country roads late at night or in poor light.

Mr. Brett added: “While this may be a time for celebration for most people, tragically there are 177 families sitting down to Christmas dinner, who are grieving the loss of a loved one as a result of a fatal crash in 2011. Let’s ensure that no more families in this country suffer as they do and that this Christmas is a safe one for all.”

“If you are going out for a drink over the Christmas break, leave the keys at home; get a taxi, minibus, public transport or take turns to designate a driver. And don’t forget that time is the only way to get alcohol out of your system, so don’t assume you are safe to drive the morning after a night out”.

He also asked drivers to “Watch out for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, and expect the unexpected. You simply do not know what is waiting around the next corner”.

For those who are looking for a last minute Christmas gift, Mr. Brett suggests giving a safety gift. This could include a voucher for driving lessons with an RSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) for the learner driver in your home. Or if you have a relative or friend who has young children why not consider giving them a voucher towards the purchase of a new child car seat, especially if they are upgrading seats soon. For the avid walker or jogger, why not give high visibility or reflective clothing or maybe a torch.”

The RSA would like to take this opportunity to wish all road users a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

“This year temperatures are expected to hover around a balmy 10°C for the big day, and while motorists will be much more confident as they set out on their journey home for Christmas, it is still vital to keep road safety at the forefront of our minds during the festive period.”

“The most important advice for drivers as they set out on their journey home this Christmas is to remember that thousands of other people are planning to do the exact same thing! Allow yourself plenty of time for your journey, be patient, stay alert when making long trips and abide by the speed limits.”

The volume of motorists on the roads in the days coming up to Christmas is reflected in the fact that AA Patrols experienced a 52 per cent increase in breakdown calls last Christmas Eve, something which is the norm each year.

Those taking to the roads are reminded that since last Christmas drink driving limits have been reduced and will be forcefully policed by An Garda Síochana. The changes, which bring Irish law into line with European levels, have seen the limit drop from 80mg to 50mg for most drivers. The advice in this area doesn’t change: never ever drink and drive, and do not get behind the wheel the day after drinking until you are certain it is safe to do so.

There are lots of events and sporting fixtures taking place across the country over the Christmas break including both the Leopardstown and Limerick Racing festivals beginning on St Stephen’s Day and two Pro 12 matches also taking place on the 26th reports AA Roadwatch. “All of these events are expected to attract large crowds, especially considering the fact that many loyal attendees have missed out on these events last year because of the weather.” advises Carragher.

Funderland, an Irish institution, will take place from the 26th and AA Roadwatch reminds anyone heading to the Leinster Pro 12 match at the RDS on the same day that parking will be reduced as a result.

For those heading to the Leopardstown Festival, AA Roadwatch also advises that there is limited free parking on site, however a shuttle bus is available on race-days from the Sandyford Luas stop and from the Carrickmines Park and Ride. Bus Éireann is providing a service from Busáras on race days also.

“Dublin city centre is the place to be for New Year’s Eve as the first ever NYE Dublin festival will take place from Friday 30th December until Sunday 1st January.” Says Carragher. “The main event is on Saturday 31st and College Green will close from 2pm on Saturday 31st December until 6:30am on Sunday 1st January to facilitate the festivities.”

“The AA Roadwatch team won’t have their feet up in front of the fire over Christmas! We’ll be here watching the roads everyday. Keep an eye on www.aaroadwatch.ie or follow @aaroadwatch on Twitter.”

Met Eireann has advised that there will be squally showers or thunderstorms which will lead to sleet and snow in parts.

Some areas, particularly in the North and West, will be affected by blizzard-like conditions and road users should ask themselves if making a journey by road is absolutely necessary. If not consider delaying a trip until the weather and road conditions improve. The golden rule is to drive, cycle or walk with care and caution and expect the unexpected.

These conditions are expected to remain for the rest of the week; with ice and snow showers forecast.

Mr. Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority had this advice for road users, “I would ask each and every road user to use the roads safely over the coming week. With bad weather forecast, we need to be prepared for these severe weather conditions of stormy winds, patches of ice and snow showers. Visibility for road users is severely decreased in such weather conditions, which increases the risk of collision. Therefore motorists need to drive safely and slowly, and all pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists should wear high visibility clothing to give them the best chance on the road.”

“Road users need to heed local weather and traffic reports, be extremely careful and heed any Garda messages in relation to travel. This will give them a better understanding of the road conditions in their area.” He added.

Mr. Brett also urged road users to, “Watch out for black ice. If the road looks polished or glossy it could be, “black ice” and it’s difficult to see. It is nearly transparent ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely. Watch out for black ice, especially in sheltered / shaded areas on roads, under trees and adjacent to high walls.”

Motorists should;

· Watch out for falling/fallen debris on the road and vehicles veering across the road and the reaction of other road users.

· Notify the Gardaí about fallen debris on the roadway. NEVER stop on a motorway to remove debris.

· Control of a vehicle may be affected by strong cross winds and sleet.

· High sided vehicles, motorcyclists and cyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds.

· Expect gusts at open areas, where gaps in high buildings and hedgerows create a wind channel.

· Watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists and allow extra space.

· Remember there may be black ice in sheltered spots and on bends and corners.

· Be aware of the risk slush build up at road sides. Visibility will be reduced as spray from vehicles is thrown onto the windscreen of your vehicle.

· Keep an extra distance from the vehicle in front, especially goods vehicles, and ensure that your windshield washer is full. Keep your lights clear of grime and dirt.

Pedestrians and cyclists are advised to;

· Be seen. Wear bright clothing with reflective armbands or a reflective belt and appropriate footwear, consider carrying a torch with you.

· Take extra care when near traffic or crossing the road in extremely windy conditions as sudden gusts can blow you into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

· In extreme weather conditions it is best to avoid making a journey by road unless absolutely necessary, as cars and trucks can slip and slide.

The RSA has developed a dedicated section on its website to provide road users with advice in severe weather situations, Severe Weather Advice for road users.

In addition, pre-recorded audio safety tips are available on the site to the public but also to broadcasters looking for messages to use for ‘Public Service Broadcasting’ purposes.

The forecast is for stormy conditions through the West and Northwest with gale force winds and damaging gusts of 100 to 130 km/h. Extremely windy elsewhere with gusts of 110 km/h at times. The weather warning will continue throughout Tuesday.

In such conditions the RSA is advising motorists to drive with care and expect the unexpected.

· Watch out for falling/fallen debris on the road and vehicles veering across the road and the reaction of other road users.

· Notify the Gardaí about fallen debris on the roadway. NEVER stop on a motorway to remove debris.

· Control of a vehicle may be affected by strong cross winds.

· High sided vehicles, motorcyclists and cyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds.

· Expect gusts at open areas, where gaps in high buildings and hedgerows create a wind channel.

· Watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists and allow extra space.

Pedestrians and cyclists are advised to;

· Be seen. Wear bright clothing with reflective armbands or a reflective belt.

· Take extra care when near traffic or crossing the road in extremely windy conditions as sudden gusts can blow you into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

· In extreme weather conditions it is best to avoid making a journey by road unless absolutely necessary.

Visit the RSA’s website for more information on Severe Weather Advice for road users.

This figure was higher again at 14% among 17-24 year olds according to the poll.  In contrast just 5% of those over the age of 65 said they were unclear of the risks, suggesting that driver experience comes into play.

A further 42% of the 12,000 plus people polled by AA Motor Insurance indicated that while they were somewhat aware of the dangers of gusty conditions, there was definitely room to improve their

knowledge.

“While you might think our safety advice is a little dramatic what you should consider is that physics comes into play – The velocity you’re travelling at will result in heightened pressure on your

car.” Advises Conor Faughnan , Director of Policy, AA Ireland.  “When it’s blustery out you really do need to be mindful on open stretches of road, when passing bridges or gaps in hedges or when

overtaking high-sided vehicles.”

To illustrate the point, AA Motor Insurance is asking motorists to envisage the following scenario:  Due to the arrival of an expected storm wind speed increases from 50km/ph to 100km/ph.  In this instance while the wind speed may have doubled, the pressure exerted on a vehicle driving in such conditions would in fact be quadrupled  if not more on account of velocity.

A late night; a double shift; a baby who won’t go to sleep or the monotony of the open road – there are many reasons for becoming drowsy at the wheel of a vehicle. Regardless of the cause, the consequences can be devastating on the person, the family, friends/colleagues or the vehicle. The proportion of accidents caused by tired drivers varies from one study to another, but is generally between about 15 and 60%. Research also shows that this type of accident is often more serious than collisions caused by other factors because reaction times are delayed and evasive manoeuvres are not taken.

Dead tired

“It has been proven that it can be as dangerous to drive while tired as it is to drive with alcohol in your bloodstream,” says Torbjörn Åkerstedt, sleep researcher and professor at Karolinska Institutet and the University of Stockholm.

During the course of his research, Professor Åkerstedt puts tired people into a driving simulator to study how they react behind the wheel. After first experiencing the classic symptoms of tiredness, such as heavy eyelids and yawning, many of the test subjects slip into what is known as a microsleep, when they doze off for a few seconds – often without realising it. To help combat this, Volvo Trucks has developed Driver Alert Support (DAS), a sensor-based system which detects when a driver is drifting off. If the driver shows symptoms of tiredness such as erratic or jerky driving, the system sends out both an audible warning and a visual signal.

“The system is invisible if you are driving well,” says Peter Kronberg, who led the technical development of DAS for Volvo Trucks. “It isn’t something that will require your attention or unnecessarily distract you while you are on the road. However, when it makes itself known, it does so for a very good reason – to warn you that you are a danger on the road and it is time for you to do something about it.”

However, driving ability is affected in a variety of ways in addition to the obvious consequences of actually falling asleep.

“You think more slowly, you take longer to remember things, you find it more difficult to learn new things and respond more slowly to simple stimuli,” says Professor Åkerstedt. “Studies have also shown that you lose control over your emotions. Being emotionally unstable is naturally not a positive characteristic when you are behind the wheel since this impairs your judgement.”

Truck drivers in focus

In one National Transportation Safety Board study, 52 per cent of single-vehicle accidents involving heavy trucks were fatigue-related, and in nearly 18 per cent of cases the driver admitted to falling asleep. The European SafetyNet (2009) Fatigue survey revealed that 60 per cent of all heavy vehicle drivers have experienced drowsiness behind the wheel. However, a Finnish study* reveals that truck drivers are less likely to fall asleep behind the wheel than other road users and are involved in fewer accidents per kilometre, but because of the sheer amount of time they spend driving, they are still an important group to examine.

The average long-haul driver sleeps 4.6 nights a week in the cab, according to surveys carried out by Volvo Trucks. This was underlined when the company asked 2,200 long-haul truck drivers to prioritise fifteen different in-cab parameters, because top of the list was ‘rest’ and ‘sleep comfort’. Today’s driving and rest regulations for truck drivers can only improve safety if the statutory rest period really does offer proper relaxation.

“A good driver’s environment is one of Volvo’s hallmarks, but it’s also as much about another of our core values – safety,” explains Carl Johan Almqvist, Traffic and Product Safety Director at Volvo Trucks. “A poorly designed driver’s environment results in poorer road safety, but a driver who is tired because they have slept badly is actually even worse.”

So Volvo has redesigned the bunk area of its sleeper cabs to help drivers sleep better, thereby keeping them more alert behind the wheel the next day. Beds are adjustable, mattresses are available in different firmness levels and there is a choice of overlay mattresses to meet each individual driver’s preferences.

Take a break

So, what should you do if you feel you are getting tired while driving? “Drowsiness can be counteracted by drinking plenty of coffee or taking frequent breaks,” says Professor Åkerstedt. “However, after a break you’re only alert for another 15 to 30 minutes and the more tired you are, the faster you’ll become tired and sleepy again after each break. As such, it’s vital to be aware of your tiredness, so that you can choose to act before it gets too late.”

Gardaí will be able to ask drivers to perform tests at the roadside in order to determine if they are driving under the influence of drugs. New legislation is currently being drafted and Minister Varadkar hopes to introduce the measure in the new year.

Any driver who fails the roadside impairment test, or who appears to be under the influence of drugs, will be arrested and brought to a Garda Station.

Speaking about the new legislation, Minister Varadkar said: ‘These new laws will allow us to fast-track measures against drug driving. It’s already against the law to drive under the influence of drugs, but Gardaí will soon be able to conduct roadside drug tests. This will make it easier to detect and prosecute drug driving’.

Gardaí will be able to test motorists for their co-ordination abilities by asking them to perform a series of physical exercises or gestures. Training of Garda members in the new procedures has been underway for some time by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) and UCD, in preparation for the introduction.

The new tests will be facilitated by a section of the Road Traffic No. 3 Bill, which is currently being drafted. This legislation will also allow the introduction of ‘R’ plates under a graduated licence system, and pave the way for a plastic card driving licence.

Research is also underway within Ireland, and internationally, to develop an apparatus which can detect the presence of drug intoxicants other than alcohol in the body, in the same way that a breath test can measure alcohol levels. The Medical Bureau of Road Safety is closely involved in these initiatives.

The script for ‘Loaded Weapon’ was developed by Richard Lahart, an undergraduate science student in University College Cork (UCC), and was the winning entry in the RSA and Setanta Insurance’s road safety competition, ‘Keep Drama off the Roads’.

The action in Richard’s script focuses on a group of young male friends as they go for a drive at night. Slowly, and ominously, it begins to become clear that their behaviour in the car is very reckless – and that every time the young men do something reckless: almost hitting a cyclist, going too fast or unbuckling their seat belt, a gun is revealed. The film ends with a crash accompanied by a gunshot. Through the use of gun imagery, the message is very clear: “Your car is a loaded weapon. And everyone in it has their finger on the trigger.”

The film reminds us of the potentially fatal consequences of driving a car, and asks us to treat driving with the respect it deserves. But it also tells us that keeping our roads safe is a responsibility each and every one of us shares, including passengers.

Mr Noel Brett Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority said: “It’s a sad fact but young people, particularly young males, are most at risk of dying on our roads. We wanted to come up with a new way of getting into the minds of this vulnerable group of road-users, using a medium with which they are familiar and in a way that will get their attention. What’s unique about this film is that it was developed from an idea a young student came up with to tackle the culture of speed and dangerous driving among his peers.”

“‘Loaded Weapon’ encourages young people to understand the risks associated with driving dangerously and to look after each other by either speaking up or resisting peer pressure to take risks behind the wheel. It’s engaging, challenging and provocative and reminds us all that a car is essentially a loaded weapon and driving should be treated with the respect it deserves.”

Mr John Beatty, Setanta Insurance said: “The competition invited young people aged between 17 and 25 to come up with a short film script to address the theme of ‘breaking the culture of dangerous driving’. We wanted young people to talk to us about how they see dangerous driving among their peer group and come up with ways to address it in a way that’s relevant to them. The winning entry, ‘Loaded Weapon’, is engaging, challenging and provocative and really shows that young people are thinking about road safety and how it affects them and their peers.”

The short film ‘Loaded Weapon’ is currently being shown on YouTube at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M2A56vvTk4

Swilly Group founder Noel Sweeney brought all of his years as a singer, amateur dramatist, playwright and Driving Instructor to bear when he wrote and recorded “The Roundabout Song” and video. Noel came up with the song as a way of explaining the rules and regulations of the roundabout to young learners in a fun and enjoyable way.

Noel wrote the song and recorded it in the studio of well-known Letterkenny artiste Mark Black with the support of a number of local artists. Noel and The Swilly Group team enlisted the help of young Letterkenny filmmaker Steve McCollum to shoot a video for the song. Shot entirely in and around Letterkenny on a November Sunday morning, the video compliments the song and combines humour with a road safety message in a successful fashion.

Having been uploaded on the Swilly Drive YouTube channel on Friday 18 November, the song has achieved over 3,000 YouTube views in the first three days. Positive compliments have been flying in from around the globe with the song growing virally being shared by friends and fans on Facebook, Twitter and other social media applications.

The video can be found on The Swilly Group’s Facebook page (Swilly Group), Twitter feed (@swillygroup), Youtube channel (swillydrive) or on their website www.swillygroup.com

For more information on The Swilly Group or the services it provides check out our website www.swillygroup.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

All primary schools students in Co. Mayo are to receive Christmas cards featuring the man himself taking due care and attention before setting on his epic annual voyage.

“Santa, make sure you have Rudolf’s lights on and don’t forget to fasten your seatbelt,” one of Santa’s exclaims.

“Every year hundreds of children are injured or killed on our roads. It is vitally important that we educate our young children of the potential dangers on our roads,” said Noel Gibbons, Road Safety Officer of Mayo County Council, who co-ordinated the campaign with Santa Claus.

“We would like to thank Santa for helping us to get this vital message out there.”

Santa Claus said he was “delighted to help out – it’s crucial that children take great care on the roads.”

The cards can be sent on by the children to friends and family to spread the road safety message.

Heaviest rainfall expected in the coastal counties of the West where coastal flooding is expected.

The poor weather will create potentially hazardous conditions for road users. As such the RSA is advising drivers that;

It takes longer to stop a vehicle on wet roads so slow down and allow extra distance between you and the vehicle in front, use the 4 second rule

Take special care when driving behind goods vehicles as they generate a considerable amount of spray which reduces your visibility, hold back to where you can see their mirrors

Watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists

Use dipped headlights at all times of poor visibility not parking/side lights and fog lights

Be mindful of Aquaplaning on roads where 100/120kmh speeds apply. Aquaplaning occurs where the tyre tread fills with water

Pedestrian, cyclists and motorcyclists are advised to be safe and be seen. Wear bright clothing with high visibility vest, reflective armbands or a reflective sam brown belt, you should also carry a torch

Pedestrians should walk on a footpath, not in the street. Walk on the right hand side of the road, facing traffic if there are no footpaths

With added risks posed flooded roads the RSA has the following advice;

If the road ahead is flooded choose another route, do not attempt to drive through it. Flooded roads that appear shallow could be deeper than you think.

After going through water, drive slowly with your foot on the brake pedal for a short distance – this helps to dry the brakes.

Sometimes roads can be closed due to their fragile state after wet weather or because they are blocked by flooding.

Road users should always follow recommended routes and obey signs closing roads to traffic

Watch out for washed out roads, earth slides, broken water or sewer mains, loose or downed electrical wires, and fallen or falling objects

The Road Safety Authority is currently implementing a wide-ranging reform programme, which it says will deliver a ‘step change’ in the roadworthiness standards of commercial vehicles operating on Ireland’s roads.

The RSA says the reform will improve the standard of commercial vehicles on our roads and thereby contribute to the RSA mission objective of saving lives and preventing injuries by reducing the number of accidents involving commercial vehicles on Ireland’s roads.

The benefits of the reform programme will include the creation of a “level playing field” for Ireland’s operators through targeting those who choose not to maintain the roadworthiness of their fleet; reduced economic costs to the State; enhanced testing standards for Ireland’s network of commercial vehicle & ADR test centres (which test roadworthiness of vehicles carrying dangerous goods); and enforced compliance of commercial vehicle annual testing.

The programme was initiated following a request by the Minister for Transport to perform a detailed review of the Irish roadworthiness testing, compliance and enforcement regimes.

The RSA has been charged with delivering on these recommendations, and the CVR Reform Programme was formally initiated in July 2010, with the programme up-front costs being financed by the RSA.

The closing date for receipt of submissions for the public consultation Commercial vehicle roadworthiness reforms as relates to registered owners, operators and drivers is Friday November 4th 2011 for any comments you may wish to submit.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána, has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the new reduced drink drive limits, which come into effect over the 2011 October Bank Holiday Weekend.

The drink drive limit, which is coming down in line with European levels, will see the current limit drop from 80 milligrams (mg) to 50 milligrams (mg) for all drivers and from 80 milligrams (mg) to 20 milligrams (mg) for learner, newly qualified drivers (for a period of two years after passing the driving test) and professional drivers such as bus, goods vehicle and public service vehicle drivers (PSV).

Speaking at the launch, Minister Varadkar said: ‘These measures are designed to build on the good progress that Ireland has made on road safety. They send out a very clear signal that drinking and driving cannot be tolerated and will be prosecuted’.

“There has been a marked fall-off in road deaths so far this year, but we still have some way to go. I hope these new measures will ensure that the October bank holiday weekend does not see a repeat of the carnage witnessed in earlier years. Similar measures in Queensland, Australia saw an 18% reduction in fatal collisions and 14% in serious injury collisions. Sweden saw a reduction of 9.7% in fatal crashes and an 11% decrease in single vehicle collisions.”

“50 mgs is the normal limit in most parts of Europe and indeed in most of the developed world.” Says Director of Policy Conor Faughnan. “Ireland has been something of an anomaly with our higher 80 mg limit, and this new 50 mg limit finally brings us into line.”

The AA also believes that the decision to use a lesser punishment, short of a driving ban, where a driver is above 50 but below 80 mgs is an entirely sensible and practical measure.

“Accident risk increases markedly from 50 mgs upwards.” Says Faughnan. “However the AA believes that it is only fair to treat someone who is plainly drunk and willfully dangerous as being guilty of a more serious offence.”

“Drivers who are just above the limit – perhaps because they still have alcohol in their system from the night before – are dangerous and will be breaking the law, but in fairness it must be acknowledged that this is not the same as the deliberate drunk driver.”

More than two thirds of fatal pedestrian collisions happen during the hours of darkness.  Although pedestrians can hear a car coming and see it’s lights, it’s driver may not see the pedestrian and certainly won’t hear them.

Supporting the campaign, Chairman of Mayo Co Council Austin Francis O’Malley said: “With darker mornings and evenings there is an increased risk to all road users. Every year in Ireland people are being killed or seriously injured simply because they could not be seen by drivers. Wearing a hi viz vest or an armband is a simple way of increasing your visibility.”

Mayo County Council in association with An Gardaí Síochána has teamed up to provide the public with free reflective Hi Viz Vests, to people using the roads in the dark. The vests were provided by the Road Safety Authority.

Niamh Kearney (14) and Tadgh O’Shea (15), students at Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí in Bantry, received the ‘Supreme Award’ for their traffic calming initiative to reduce the speed of motorists as they enter and exit Kealkill Village.

Niamh and Tadgh were also presented with the ‘Education (Secondary)’ award for their initiative. The students were shocked at the high speeds at which cars drove through Kealkill Village, which had a 50km/h speed limit, and had heard the locals talk about road collisions in the area.

With the aid of the local Gardaí, they spent two days monitoring the speed of the cars passing through the village – one car was recorded driving at a speed of 104km/h. They presented their project to An Garda Síochána and Cork County Council and were awarded a €15,000 grant by the National Roads Authority (NRA) to purchase three sets of gateway signs for each entrance to the village.

Congratulating the ‘Supreme Award’ winners, Mr Gay Byrne, Chairman of the Road Safety Authority said: “I am delighted to be here today to present the ‘Supreme’ Leading Light Award to Niamh and Tadgh from Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí for their traffic calming initiative. These two young students are an example to us all. Rather than sit back and wait for someone else to fix a problem, they took it upon themselves to find a solution to a road safety issue and ultimately make the roads safer, not just for themselves, but for everyone in the community. We can all learn a lesson from these two young people who truly are ‘leading lights’ in road safety and I congratulate them for their extraordinary commitment to road safety.”

Mr Gay Byrne presented a total of fourteen ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ Awards to individuals, groups, businesses, media, education sector and public sector organisations for their outstanding contributions to road safety. The awards are taking place during ‘Irish Road Safety Week’ which runs until Sunday 17th October.

Speaking to the other award winners, Mr Byrne said: “This is one of our most important events of the year, as today we can reward each and every one of you who has helped to contribute to safer roads and fewer lives lost. It gives me great honour to be here today to recognise the extraordinary efforts you have made, and continue to make, to keep our roads free of tragedy. With your commitment and support, we now have one of the best road safety records in the EU. For that, I thank you and urge you to keep up the great work you are doing.”

In addition to the ‘Supreme Award’, ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety Awards’ were handed out in thirteen categories including Education (Primary, Secondary and Third Level), Community, Young Road Safety Ambassador, Road Safety Ambassador, Road Safety Officer, Public Sector, Local Media, National Media, Business, Approved Driving Instructor (Cars) and Approved Driving Instructor (Motorcycles). The award winners included:

* ‘Local Media’ Award was presented to iRadio for their consistent promotion of road safety through interviews with road safety experts, those who have lost loved ones on the roads and the delivery of road safety messages through traffic bulletins. In December 2010, they put together a documentary on the crash in Buncrana in which eight young people lost their lives. They also ran a road safety fortnight at the beginning of the year with messages from the on air staff to slow down on the roads;

* ‘National Media’ Award was presented to Paul Melia and Treacy Hogan from the Irish Independent for consistently highlighting road safety through breaking news stories and comprehensive analysis of road safety issues. Paul and Treacy have kept road safety high on the national news agenda and have repeatedly highlighted the dangers caused by speeding, drink-driving and other dangerous behaviours, while acknowledging that most young drivers obey the law;

* ‘Education (Primary)’ Award was awarded to St Patrick’s Boys’ National School in Donabate for making road safety part of their school curriculum, including their annual Road Safety Week which has been in place since 2005 and highlights the importance of road safety to schoolchildren, parents and community in Donabate;

* ‘Education (Secondary)’ Award was awarded to Niamh Kearney and Tadgh O’Shea from Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí in Bantry for their traffic calming initiative. Niamh and Tadgh also won the ‘Supreme Award’; ‘Education (Third Level)’ was awarded to Waterford Institute of Technology Students’ Union for their Road Safety Week which demonstrates the importance of road safety to students at WIT through stark and realistic portrayals of the risks associated with dangerous driving;

* ‘Community’ Award was presented to the Irish Girl Guides for their work to promote road safety through their Road Safety Programme and the Road Safety Badge. Since 2009, a total of 5,152 road safety badges have been earned by members of the Irish Girl Guides;

* Two ‘Road Safety Officer’ Awards were presented to Barry Keating from Clare County Council and Declan Keogh from Kildare County Council for their work to promote road safety in Clare and Kildare through ongoing, active road safety initiatives and by supporting and complementing the work of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána through local and national campaigns;

* ‘Young Road Safety Ambassador’ Award was presented to Mark O’Neill from Waterford who set up a website for his peers, www.thinksafetydrivesafely.com as part of a project for his Leaving Cert. Mark wanted to ensure that relevant information was available to young people who wish to find out more about their driving test, driving lessons or road safety in general;

* ‘Road Safety Ambassador’ Award was presented to Garda Andrew Keegan from Enniscrone, Co. Sligo who has worked with his local primary school for many years, helping to instil lifelong road safety skills in the pupils. In addition to regular road safety workshops and cycling skills training, Andrew also organises, trains and oversees the Junior School Warden Scheme;

* ‘Business’ Award was presented to Gielty’s Bar and Restaurant in Achill Island. Alan Gielty, Proprietor, wanted to keep the traditional Irish meeting place alive and ensure that the locals could continue to enjoy their social lives. He purchased a mini bus, branded with the slogan ‘You Drink, We Drive’ which allows people anywhere on the island to call Alan at any time to get a lift to and from the pub. This initiative allows people to get to the pub for a drink, comfortable in the knowledge that they have a safe way home at the end of the night;

* ‘Public Sector’ Award was presented to Meath County Council for its commitment to Engineering, Education, Enforcement and Evaluation as the basis for improving road safety and reducing the numbers of people killed and injured on Meath roads. Meath County Council has produced two road safety plans, the most recent from 2010 to 2012. As a result, road fatalities have dropped from 30 in 2005 to 6 in 2010.

* ‘Approved Driving Instructor (Motorcycles)’ Award was presented to Aidan Sheehan who has been an ADI since June 2009. He is also approved as an Initial Basic Training (IBT) provider and has a centre in Dunshaughlin Co. Meath. Aidan was chosen for this award because of his high level of knowledge and understanding as well as a very high level of practical riding skill, which is essential for those seeking to act as mentors for our young learners; ‘

* Approved Driving Instructor (Cars)’ Award was presented to Tomas O’Callaghan who became approved as a car Instructor (Category B) in March 2011. He works in the Southeast area and specialises in providing training for learners with disabilities. He also assists medical professionals by carrying out assessments of some drivers to help medical practitioners determine whether or not any restrictions should be placed on their driving licence or Learner permit.