Schoolchildren to be given demonstration of dangerous driving

Schoolchildren in Co Wexford will tomorrow be treated to an action-packed demonstration of what can go wrong when cars are driven badly and at speed.

Under a new road safety initiative being promoted by Wexford County Council and the local Rotary Club, top Garda drivers will use an unopened section of the new Gorey bypass to show common causes of accidents to 15- to 17-year-old students.

Entitled "Just One Life", the campaign is expected to feature a number of dangerous driving moves that will show students common driving faults.

Skids demonstrating braking distances, wheel spins and other attention-grabbing manoeuvres will be performed by highly-trained Garda drivers.

A key aspect of the demonstration will be to show how easy it is to lose control of a car - through over-confidence, play-acting or excessive speed.

Students will be invited to travel in the cars as the Garda drivers give the displays.

Later, students will watch stark road safety advertisements and films from around the world. They will also hear blunt talks from gardaí, accident and emergency staff and insurance experts.

The aim of the exercise, say organisers, is to let the students know, in the most attention-grabbing fashion, just how simple it is to lose control of a car and crash.

The initiative also aims to show the frequently devastating consequences of a minute slip while driving a car, according to a spokesman.

Organisers have said it is hoped that if young people are made acutely aware of these dangers before they legally take cars on the open road, lives could be saved.

One of the highest risk groups for fatalities on the Republic's roads continues to be young people, particularly young men. The high risk time for this category is between 9pm and 3am, principally at weekends.

Just One Life is expected to be rolled out to schools across Co Wexford after tomorrow's demonstration.

More than four years ago, a confidential report to Government warned of the high risk young people posed on our roads. At the time, a three-step licensing programme was proposed.

This programme would begin with a learner's permit and holders of this type of licence would require supervision at all times. It would also involve restrictions on carrying teenage passengers, night-time curfews and a zero blood alcohol limit.

Basic driver training was also to have been included in schools. Steps two and three of the licencing plan relaxed the restrictions placed on drivers on a gradual basis.

However, to date, the report has not been acted upon.