Shock tactics to teach students that speed kills

Over 1,500 Co. Mayo transition year students will this week (Thursday) attend a hard-hitting road safety event where the tragic consequences of dangerous driving will be graphically illustrated.

Graphic crash imagery will be used to tell the story of how a night out ended in tragedy and permanent disability for one young driver.

The students will hear first-hand accounts from the family member of a deceased road traffic accident victim, as well as a car crash survivor, An Garda Síochána, a funeral undertaker, the ambulance service, fire service, and a consultant base at the A&E Department of Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar.

The AXA road safety road show – in the TF Royal Hotel, Castlebar – will also use live performance, reconstructed crash sites, video, and shock tactics to teach teens not to become another statistic.

Noel Gibbons, road safety officer with Mayo County Council, said shock tactics are necessary and what really gets through to young people in the highest risk group.

“I have no doubt that the roadshow shocks our young audience and we think that's necessary to show them the perils of driving dangerously,” he said.

With the recent increase of farm deaths, students will also be told of the dangers when using tractors by officials from the IFA.