Call for universal road safety programme in Irish schools

Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly has called for the introduction of universal road safety and driver theory test programmes in schools across Ireland. Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, Farrelly argued that the current scheme teachers are asked to run is insufficient, with very little being taught in classrooms about road safety. When discussing students in their transition year or fifth year, Farrelly noted that the Road Safety Authority's eight to ten session manual is often the only resource available to teachers.

Farrelly's party proposes establishing a small fund to hire 50 development officers who would work directly with the Road Safety Authority (RSA). These officers would visit schools, youth services, and youth reach centres to provide comprehensive road safety education. Farrelly emphasized that the current level of road safety education provided to young people is inadequate.

He advocated for sessions that encompass all aspects of road safety, including firsthand experiences from collision victims, gardaí, and first responders.

The proposed programme aims to challenge dangerous behaviors often influenced by social media trends. Farrelly stressed the importance of informal education settings where young people feel safe to ask questions and challenge each other on their behaviors. By implementing a universal approach to road safety education, he believes the next generation of road users—drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists—will receive consistent and adequate training.