Road Safety
A Chain Reaction To Safety
12, Jun 2014 - 06:51

A chain reaction to safety

It is expected over 300 schoolchildren will pedal their way through the streets of Castlebar in a novel road safety campaign this Thursday 12th June, so motorists

Specially-trained garda cyclists will pass on road safety skills that could help to keep the children save and alive on the nation's roads.

Each team will be accompanied by a judge at the event in Castlebar on Thursday, May 12th and tested on a wide range of cycling abilities, as part of an initiative by Mayo County Council/RSA, Civil defence and Mayo Garda Siochana.

The young cyclists will set about to form the longest cycling train in Ireland on the day also.

"It is crucial that people learn how to cycle safely on our roads from a young age, and we aim to show them some of the key aspects of road safety and it is also a great way of showing pupils that there are very real, much healthier and environmentally friendly alternatives to using the car," said Mr Noel Gibbons Road Safety Officer.

"Cyclists don't have steel armour round them like drivers do, but when cyclists receive cycle training there is no smarter form of travel than the bike."

The teams will consist of three students over the age of ten. Complete with bicycle and helmet, they will manoeuvre their way through the traffic and utilise the lessons they have learned during cycling proficiency courses in their schools over the past year.

The event is being organised in association with the Mayo Garda Siochana, Mayo County Council, RSA, Mayo Garda Siochana and Mayo Civil Defence.