Minister for Education Mary Hanafin is backing proposals which could see students take formal road safety lessons during transition year. Seán Flynn, Education Editor, reports.
While a final decision will be made by the Cabinet subcommittee on road safety, Ms Hanafin believes a module on road safety should be incorporated into the year, which is now taken by a majority of second-level students after their Junior Cert exams.
The Minister said it was not feasible to provide driving lessons for 15- to 16-year-olds in schools because of space and other restrictions. But she believes a huge amount can be done "not only on the rules of the road but in teaching about respect and responsibility".
Speaking yesterday, the Minister told The Irish Times: "Schools can't solve the problem. There is a gap between the 15-year-old in the classroom and the 18-year-old behind the wheel. But there is much that can be done in terms of the rules of the road, attitudes and responsibility."
Ms Hanafin said there was an onus particularly on young girls to take more responsibility for car safety.
"Unfortunately, many of the deaths on our roads are of young men and a great deal of this is linked to speed and alcohol. But the young girl in the car has a responsibility to herself and everyone else to say you are speeding, stop and get out."
A few schools already provide road safety lessons as part of transition year but there is no formal national programme for schools.
Jim Connolly, of Safe Driving Pledge, who organised a petition for driver education to the Minister last year, said the Republic needed to implement a comprehensive driver education programme similar to the United States, where schools have driving departments.
"For every 60,000 students who sit the Leaving Certificate each year, 1,000 of these are unlikely to reach the age of 25 because they will die on the roads," said Mr Connolly.