With the Leaving and Junior cert exams finishing this week, students will soon take to the streets to celebrate the end of examinations and the beginning of summer with much of the festivities likely to take place this weekend.
To date seven per cent of those killed on Irish roads have been aged between 16 and 20, prompting Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar and CEO of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) Noel Brett to issue a joint appeal to students to prioritise road safety during their celebrations.
"The end of the leaving and junior cert exams should be a time of celebration, not condolences. Thousands of students around Ireland are looking forward to the end of the exams," said Minister Varadkar. "I would urge parents to talk to them about their plans in advance, including who they will be travelling with and how they intend getting to their destination."
Minister Varadkar and Noel Brett asked young motorists to consider using public transport to get to and from their destination safely and reminded them that learner drivers must be accompanied by a full licence holder, who has held that licence for more than two years.
Considering the amount of congratulatory phone calls or texts over the period drivers are reminded about the dangers of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Research shows that you are four times more likely to crash if you use a hand-held mobile phone while driving and 23 times more likely to crash if you text while driving.
Noel Brett added: "To parents I would echo what Minster Varadkar said, Noel Brett also added: "To students I would say be careful who you get into a car with - never get into a car with someone who drives recklessly or who has consumed alcohol or taken drugs. Make sensible choices about how you decide to travel and who you travel with, and don't put your life or the lives of others at risk."