Kildare - Road Safety

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Motorcycle Safety Campaign

Issued on 4th May 2012

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Issued on 4th May 2012

The month of May is generally the beginning of the Motorbike season for many motorcyclists across Ireland. This bank holiday weekend sees the launch of a month long campaign which will focus on road safety for motorcyclists and road users who encounter motorcyclists across county Kildare, targeting motorcycle clubs and associations in the county.

Motorcyclists represent less than 1 in 50 of all licensed vehicles in Ireland, and they account for 1 in 8 road deaths, one of the main reasons is that, in a collision, motorcycle and moped users have less protection than drivers or passengers in vehicles. In the past five years, 121 motorcyclists were killed on Irish roads.

Launching the campaign at Kildare Garda Divisional Headquarters, Naas on Friday 4^th May 2012 were Kildare County Council’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh, Motorbike Garda John Joe O’ Connell, Traffic Corps, Naas and Leading Ambulance Paramedic Tony Kelly from the HSE National Ambulance Service. Education and training are an issue in relation to motorcyclists and biking can be fun and safe, however, if you do not have the proper skills and attitude to safety, then the benefit of education and training is lost and becomes a much riskier pursuit.

‘Bizarre and disappointing’
While visibility is an essential part of road safety, so too is wearing protective gear on a motorcycle because it can minimise the severity of injuries in a collision. Declan Keogh says that it is disappointing that, considering the injuries sustained in collisions, while it is mandatory that motorcyclists should wear a high visibility vest, however, it is not the case for PPE or the appropriate gear. “It is mandatory for a motorcyclist to wear a high visibility vest while riding a motorcycle, unfortunately however, I find it ‘bizarre and disappointing’ that it is not mandatory for a motorcyclist or pillion passenger to wear the proper and appropriate protective gear while riding on a motorcycle. After all, if you come off a motorbike, a vest will not provide for any protection whatsoever, whereas the protective gear will. I hope this will change soon enough”

Common Injuries

All too often motorcyclists or pillion passengers suffer severe and unnecessary injuries following a collision with or from a motorcycle. Leading Ambulance Paramedic Tony Kelly outlines what injuries can be sustained in such collisions. “Most common injuries we would see following a motorcycle collision are head injury, neck injury which would be spinal injury, and chest injury. We also see lower limb fractures. Where people are not wearing the correct or appropriate protective gear, a lot of people would suffer road rash, this is where the skin is torn off the patients, and they would suffer over the years getting skin graph”.

Common Offences

Garda John Joe O’ Connell is a member of the Garda Traffic Corps in Naas. He says that motorcyclists are not exempt in anyway from the same rules or restrictions as four wheeled vehicles. “We find when patrolling the roads of Kildare that the major offences by motorcyclists are speeding and defective motorcycles, and this includes all aspects of the bikes, the main one being the tyres. Not many know that the correct tyre thread depth for a motorbike is 1mm, and again not many wear the correct protective gear. We do stop and breathalyse motorcycle drivers, and they are also stopped or prosecuted for speeding etc. Motorcyclists should be reminded that whatever offence a vehicle driver can be prosecuted for, so too can a motorcyclist, and this includes speeding and drink or drug driving. We would urge any motorcyclist to ensure that firstly, the bike is roadworthy and secondly that they take all aspects of safety into consideration for themselves as a motorcyclist and also for their pillion passengers"

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Be Safe - Be Wise - Be Bright - Wear Bright - ARRIVE ALIVE!

Be Safe - Be Wise - Be Bright - Wear Bright - ARRIVE ALIVE!

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2011 Nov 11 - Planning for Severe Weather Conditions

During the period 27 November to 26 December 2010, there were several snowfalls and some very cold nights on which temperatures fell as low as -180C. In some cases temperatures stayed continuously below 00 for several days at a time. Ground froze to a depth of about 30 centime.....

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The severe cold and variability of the weather affected road transport and water supplies in County Kildare. The county council responded to these conditions in two phases, the first of which saw an emphasis on keeping roads open and safe, while the second was characterised by a campaign to sustain water supplies.

Winter Advice and Information
For information, alerts and advice go to our website http://www.kildarecountycouncil.ie/ A national campaign was also launched on the 9th November with an accompanying website http://www.winterready.ie and a “Be Winter Ready” advice booklet available.

Keeping Roads Open
There are 2,000 kilometres of public roads in the county. Constraints on resources mean that the Council must prioritise the gritting / salting of the main routes in the County. The details of these prioritised gritting routes are available in map and text format on the Council’s website www.kildare.ie/countycouncil/emergencynewsandinformation

Footpaths
In periods of severe cold weather it is not possible for Kildare Local Authorities (Kildare County Council, Naas Town Council and Athy Town Council) to treat all roads and footpaths. The priority for the Council is to keep the main routes in the county, which carry the larger volumes of traffic, open.

Following concerns expressed, by some householders and business owners, in relation to liability, advice was sought from the Office of the Attorney General.

The advice received is that liability does not arise for snow that is cleared in a safe manner on footpaths or in front of premises. Commercial property owners in particular should make sure that they have adequate supplies of salt in place to ensure the safety of employees and visitors. Advice relating to the clearing of footpaths is available on the Council’s website.

Community Involvement
The Council was greatly encouraged by the strong spirit of volunteerism witnessed throughout the country last winter. The Council would urge members of the public to reach out to their older neighbours during episodes of severe weather to make sure that they are okay.

In relation to people gritting or salting their own roads with salt or grit supplied by the local authorities, the legal advice is that the issue of liability does not arise where the material is delivered, stored and used in a safe manner and does not cause a hazard

Water Supplies
Public water supplies came under pressure in December / January 2010. There were indications that consumers were leaving taps running to prevent the bursting of pipes in their homes and businesses and this caused significant loss of water. There were also a number of bursts in watermains which contributed to the problem.

The combined effect of these losses drove demand in Kildare to unsustainable levels. This occurred against a background of the critically-balanced supply in the Greater Dublin Region from which County Kildare draws much of its water.

With the return of severe cold weather this winter there is advice for householders on the Council’s website in relation to (a) preventing stopcocks from freezing, (b) protecting pipes inside and outside the home and some general hints and tips.

Contact Details
During normal office hours you can contact Kildare County Council by telephone; (045) 980200, by email; secretar@kildarecoco.ie or by writing to us at Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co Kildare.

Outside of normal office hours you can call the Emergency Number 1890 50 03 33.

All Alerts/Press Releases/Advertisements/Latest items added to the Council\\\'s website feed automatically into facebook and twitter. This means that if you "like" or "follow" the Council you will get regular updates sent to your facebook page or twitter account.

These updates could relate to a road closure, a burst water pipe or an upcoming event in your locality. “Like” the council at www.facebook.com/kildarecountycouncil, "follow" the council on twitter www.twitter.com/KildareCoCo or “subscribe” to our rss feeds http://kildare.ie/countycouncil/rss/allrss/

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2011 Oct 27 New Lower Legal Drink Driving Limits

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has launched the campaign for the introduction of the new lower legal drink driving limits. The drink drive limit, which is coming down in line with Eur.....

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2011 Oct 25 - Kildare Floods - Advise for Drivers

For more advise on Driving through Floded areas << See More > >

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2011 Oct 1st - Kildare Crash: Two Teens Killed

Gardai are investigating a fatal road traffic collision on the Naas to
Kilcullen Road, at Brownstown, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare. The collision,
which involving two cars, happened shortly before 3.00 p.m. on Saturday
the.....

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2011 Sept 27 - National Ploughing Championships

\'Quirky cars and gadgets to plough home the message of road safety in Athy\'

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\'Quirky cars and gadgets to plough home the message of road safety in Athy\'

Crashed cars, driving simulators, car break reaction testers and the Beer Goggles game are just some of the quirky resources in which Kildare County Council will use to get the message of road safety home to the thousands of visitors to this years National Ploughing Championships in Athy, Co. Kildare. Over one hundred thousand people are expected at the three day event and in an effort to ensure visitors get to and from the event safely, a joint road safety appeal is being issued by Kildare County Council, the Road Safety Authority and the National Ploughing Association and they are urging motorists to prepare for their journey, plan ahead and above al, drive safely and responsibly.

In addition to the many activities taking place at the road safety stands, thousands of high visibility vests will be available to adults and children for a donation of €2 or more, the proceeds of which will go to the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dun Laoighre. Last year, Kildare Road Safety raised a total of €7,246.00 for the NRH from donations received for high visibility vests.

This is Kildare County Council\'s third year at the Ploughing Championships and road safety officer Declan Keogh says the last two years have been very successful, however, young people and adults need to be more responsible in terms of their own safety on the roads. \'The last two years have been very successful for us, and each year we have increased our road safety awareness even more. Road safety in general brings bad news to a lot of families, but this can be prevented. Our presence at the Ploughing Championships is making people more aware of the risks, dangers and consequences associated with road carnage in a quirky, light humored, but strong, interactive and visual way, but at the end of the day, it\'s the responsibility of each and every young person and adult to be more conscious about their own safety on the roads, as well as that of others\'.

A comprehensive Garda Traffic plan has been put in place and people who can avail of public transport are advised to. However, for those who have to travel by car, they are being urged to plan ahead, find out their routes and before their journey, ensure a safety check is carried out on your vehicle. For long distance travelers, regular stops should be made along the way to help drivers revive.

The Road Safety Authority will also be at the event, with their interactive road safety shuttle and the new \'Roll Over\' car. Mr. Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority said "This year, we will again be giving out 40,000 FREE high visibility vests for adults and children to ensure pedestrians and cyclists are safe on the roads. As the evenings get darker, it is important to Be Safe and Be Seen on the road. So come down to our \'Shuttle\' and our roll over car at the Ploughing Championships and get a free high visibility vest for you and your loved ones. We urge all motorists to plan ahead and give themselves plenty of time, listen to traffic updates and wear your seatbelts".

Kildare County Council will showcase its suite of road safety video tutorials on driver behavior on a big screen. The videos show the various types of dangerous driving behavior that can and has caused serious and fatal collisions on the roads. Declan Keogh says these videos will show people what bad driving habits are really like. "We have someone driving while drunk, another driving while texting and another driver demonstrates the different stopping distances on a dry and wet surface, and these videos show people, from different angles what bad driving habits are really like". In addition to this, large signs will be visible at each car park exit to remind drivers and passengers about the importance of safe driving & seatbelts.

Anna Marie McHugh from the National Ploughing Association says thousands of people will converge on Athy and the NPA want people to have great memories, not heartbreaking ones. \' The National Ploughing Championships is the annual pilgrimage for farming folk, with thousands traveling from all over the country to converge on Athy, to join in the celebration of 80 years of the NPA. We want everyone to make it to and from the event safely, so please take care, drive responsibly and be aware of the extra traffic on the road during Ploughing Week. We want everyone to have great memories of this momentous year not heartbreaking ones\'.

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2011 Aug 31 - Back to School - Adults urged to take action

Issue date: 30th August 2011

Parents and Guardians of school children across Kildare are been urged to take a more serious and responsible approach to road safety w.....

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Issue date: 30th August 2011

Parents and Guardians of school children across Kildare are been urged to take a more serious and responsible approach to road safety when bringing their child to and from school. The call comes as thousands of primary and secondary students return to school and follows the release of the ‘Child Casualties Report’ by the RSA which shows 249 children up to 14 years old were killed on Irish roads between 1997 and 2009 and an additional 1,013 were seriously injured.

Kildare County Council’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh says a heavily active and continuous programme for road safety will be delivered to primary & secondary schools and third level colleges across the county from November to June. The road safety officer will also deliver programmes to Crèches in conjunction with the Kildare Child Care committee. Declan Keogh said that parents & guardians need to play their part too. ‘Many adults who bring a child to school can sometimes have old habits which younger children pick up on. I am asking all adults, whether you are walking, cycling or driving a child to school to be more proactive, teach the child the safe way to cross a road, cross at safe places and explain to the child why it is safe to cross there. If travelling in a car, wear your seatbelt and make sure, that everyone else in the car wears theirs’.

Mr. Keogh is also concerned at the negative habits that drivers have when dropping off or collecting school children. He said drivers should consider where they are parking their vehicle when dropping off and collecting children at schools. A lot of congestion on public roads has already occurred at many schools and this can lead to critical road safety hazards. ‘Vehicles are generally parked in dangerous positions and children are then forced to walk between parked and moving vehicles. Young children are vulnerable people, and are not able to judge the traffic like adults. Drivers and Parents in particular must take responsibility for their actions in the areas of schools’ he said.

Kildare county council has almost 30 school wardens or as they are affectionately known to children as lollipop men and women. School Wardens have a very important and responsible role to play at schools. Mr. Keogh is appealing to adults to cooperate with the school wardens and obey their signal. ‘Many people still realise the important and responsible role of the warden and they sometimes don’t obey the instructions of our wardens. They are there for the safety of your children, so please help them along, work with them and be cautions when approaching a school crossing as the warden may stop traffic at any time to allow children to cross, so please drive safely and be courteous’.

The RSA’s ‘Child Casualties Report’ also highlighted a significant reduction in child passenger fatalities which decreased by 73% between 1997 and 2009. 61% of child fatalities in this period occurred outside built-up areas where the roads had a posted speed limit higher than 60km/h. The research also revealed that over half (56%) of all child casualties in Ireland between 1997 and 2009 were pedestrians or cyclists.

Mr. Noel Brett, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority said: “There has been a significant reduction in the number of children being killed and injured on our roads, but simply put, one death is one too many. As part of this year’s ‘Back to School’ campaign, the RSA is delighted to be working with ESB Electric Ireland again to provide every child starting school with a high viz vest. This initiative will help to keep our youngest and most vulnerable road-users safe on the roads when walking or cycling to school.”

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2011 July 6th - Oxegen Road Safety Campaign

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A major road safety awareness campaign is being launched today to coincide with this weekends Oxegen music festival in Punchestown. The campaign focuses on Drink & Drug Driving and Driver Fatigue. Festival goers are reminded of the legal and social consequences of driving while under the influence of illegal or controlled substances.

The campaign called \'Stamp out Drink & Drug driving\' and ‘Have a Break’ is headed by Kildare County Council, the Kildare Joint Policing Committee and the Regional Drugs Task Force and is supported by all Local Authorities in the region, the Gardaí, the Road Safety Authority and concert promoters MCD.

Festival goers are invited to become ambassadors for the campaign by posing with the Oxegen crowd on a cardboard cut-out which features the \'STAMP OUT Drink & Drug driving\' slogan. People will be able to put their heads through a silhouette and have their photographs taken. The photographs are then posted on the Kildare Road Safety Facebook page and participants are given the opportunity to take part in a competition.

Kildare\'s road safety officer Declan Keogh says every effort is being made to raise awareness on this issue. \'People are already aware of the risks associated with drink driving, and thankfully, they are now becoming more aware of the dangers and consequences of drug driving. Our aim is to link in with festival goers and highlight the effects of driving while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, and every effort is being done for this because let\'s face it, if a person drives while off their head, it could be the last trip they ever have!\'

Kildare\'s Garda Chief Superintendent Michael Byrnes said \'\'This campaign demonstrates the benefits of working co-operatively with our partners, under the auspices of Kildare Joint Policing Committee, across the County. Serious problems in society, such as drink and drug driving, require a concerted effort between communities and authorities to find solutions. This project aims to engage with younger people to stimulate awareness of the risks posed by illegal drug use and the dangers it brings. It is important that people appreciate the far reaching and life limiting consequences involved in illegal drug use. I hope that the younger community can identify with this message and become partners in combating illegal drug use.\'\'

Concert promoters MCD are advising motorists to take care on their journey to Oxegen. Justin Green of MCD says \'Where possible people should use public transport or avail of the Park & Ride facilities at Goffs. For those who must travel by car, we would encourage them to drive safely to and from the event, having regard for other people on the road\'.

Steven Joyce, Development Worker with Kildare\'s Regional Drug Task Force would like to remind festival goers that 1 minor drugs conviction can limit your possibilities of travel, employment, and freedom, he went on to say that in order to protect their dreams they should make informed decisions and not let the party atmosphere blur good judgement.

Tens of thousands of people are expected on the roads over the three days and Monday morning is expected to be the busiest with a very large contingent of people leaving the venue at the same time. The end of the road safety campaign will focus on Driver Fatigue and will target drivers as they make their way home from the event. Kildare County Council have teamed up with a number of Applegreen and Texaco Motorway service stations in county’s Kildare, Dublin, Louth and Meath as part of their ‘Have a Break’ from driving initiative. Oxegen motorists will receive a free Kit Kat bar when they purchase a cup of tea of coffee at the participating motorway service stations.

Noel Brett CEO, Road Safety Authority advised "This weekend should be about enjoying the best of Irish and international music in the company of good friends. If driving to Oxegen it is essential you focus on the task of driving and stay alert to other road users and unpredictable hazards on the roads. In particular I would highlight the distraction caused by using a mobile while driving. I understand that people need to use their mobile phone as part of their daily lives but by choosing to do this while driving you are putting yourself and others at risk. You cannot read the road when you are reading or sending text messages. No phone call, or scan of your social networking pages, is worth putting your life or the lives of others in danger. My advice is to switch off before you drive off, and if you need to use your phone, pull in and park in a safe place first."

Declan Keogh is urging drivers to plan ahead, expect long delays and follow the directional signs and instructions from An Gardai and the stewards. Motorists are also advised to listen for traffic reports on the radio. Mr. Keogh is also warning of the dangers of driver fatigue and urges drivers to consider carefully what might happen if they attempt to drive while over tired and unfit to drive.

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2011 May 23 - Kildare Crash: 16 Year Old Killed

Gardai in Celbridge, Co. Kildare are investigating a collision in which a female was killed. The collision happened on the Celbridge to Leixlip road at 4.55 p.m. A 16 year old girl was fatally injured when she was struck by a .....

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Information Day for new RSA Regulations

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has announced that the new Essential Driver Training (EDT) programme, which requires learner drivers to take compulsory driving lessons for category B.....

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The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has announced that the new Essential Driver Training (EDT) programme, which requires learner drivers to take compulsory driving lessons for category B vehicles (cars and light vans), was introduced on Monday 4th April.

EDT is one of a range of measures announced by the RSA last September as part of a new Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system which will enhance the way drivers are trained, tested and licensed in Ireland. Any person getting their first learner permit with a start date on or after 4th April 2011 must complete a minimum 12 hours of Essential Driver Training, with an RSA registered Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) before they can sit their driving test. Typically the 12 EDT lessons will be spread over six months and be supported by practice and tuition as required. In addition to the mandatory lessons with an ADI the learner driver should also undertake ongoing practice with their Sponsor.

This practice is a vital part of the learning process, and the role of the Sponsor is an essential part of the learning to drive process. Their role is to accompany and support the learner driver as they practise and build on the skills they have learned in their lessons with the ADI. Therefore it is essential that the learner driver chooses a person with whom they feel comfortable and who has had their full driver’s licence for a minimum of two years and has lots of driving experience. The RSA recommends that the learner driver practises the skills learned in each compulsory EDT lesson with their Sponsor for at least three hours before their next lesson.

An Information Day on the new regualtions is being held at the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge on Saturday 9th April between 12pm and 3pm. Kildare county council's road safety officer and Approved Driving Instructors will be on hand to provide additional information.

Those who attend and register will be entered into a free Draw to win one of two sets of FREE Driving lessons.

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BE SEEN - SLOW DOWN - BELT UP - DRIVE SOBER

All road users are urged to ensure that they are visible to road users, drivers drive slowly and carefully, all drivers and passengers, front & rear are wearing a seatbelt and that all drivers are driving sober of alcohol or illegal drugs.

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Christmas Road Safety Campaign Launched

Launch of Kildare's Christmas road safety campaign.

'Who's gonna drive you home tonight'
(Interviews below conducted by Sinéad o' Donnell)

The Mayor of Kildare, Councillor Brendan Weld officially launched Kildare co.....

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Launch of Kildare's Christmas road safety campaign.

'Who's gonna drive you home tonight'
(Interviews below conducted by Sinéad o' Donnell)

The Mayor of Kildare, Councillor Brendan Weld officially launched Kildare county councils fourth Christmas road safety campaign. The campaign called 'Who's gonna drive you home tonight' was launched at the council chambers, Áras Chill Dara at 11am on Thursday 9th December.

This year’s campaign focuses on 'Designated Drivers' and aims to encourage drivers to become safe and responsible drivers by refraining from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Speaking at the launch, Mayor Weld said "We see and hear a lot of tragedies on the roads through the media, and it is always seems worse when it happens at this time of year, because Christmas time is meant to be a special time for families'. The Mayor congratulated the emergency services and those in road safety and wished them a safe journey themselves while responding to any type of incident on the roads. He feels that the message of road safety is being taken on board. “It has taken a lot of time and resources to get the message out to people, but I feel that the message is getting out”.

A number of radio, newspaper and cinema adverts will be released to the local press as part of this important campaign. County Manager Mr. Michael Malone spoke at the launch and said "Road safety plays an important role in all sectors of the community, and he congratulated the emergency and voluntary services and wished them well over the Christmas and extended that to all staff in the Local Authorities. He added that the responsibility lies with a person themselves, whether to be a responsible person, or not".

Garda Inspector Jim Doyle, Traffic Corps, Kildare Division gave a presentation on the new GoSafe Garda Safety Camera system which was launched recently. The key message from the Gardai is to reduce crashes on the roads and enforce seatbelt wearing and the non-wearing of seatbelts. "Our key message is to be safe on the roads, to try and reduce the number of fatal collisions on the roads. In that regard it is very important for people to make sure they know how they are getting home before they head out”.

The Kildare Gardai have a road safety campaign that will focus on speeding, drink driving and the non-wearing of seatbelts. This will include widespread checkpoints across the county, focusing on MAT Mandatory Alcohol Testing. “Inspector Doyle added “One death is one death to many but we are heading in the right direction nationally, we see year on year the number of fatalities decreasing but I think Kildare county council and the Gardai are really proactive in road safety campaigns and in their efforts to reduce the number of road deaths”.

Speaking at the launch, road safety officer Declan Keogh outlined what was involved in the campaign and said "This is Kildare’s fourth Christmas road safety campaign and this year we are focusing on Designated drivers and trying to encourage people to think before they go out, about how they intend on getting home safely”. It is up to each and every driver and road user to ensure they are safe on the roads, and this campaign is encouraging those who may be socialising over the Christmas period, to think about how they are going to get home at the end of the night and to think 'Who's gonna drive you home tonight'"

Chief Fire Officer Celina Barrett said the Christmas time is a busy time for Kildare Fire Service, dealing with traffic collisions and fires, and there can be a fear among some firefighters that the person they are rescuing, may be local and known to them. “Most of our firefighters live locally so when they turn up to a collision, there is a good chance they know the people on the cars, and it’s important for all road users to slow down, they don’t want to meet our firefighters when they are doing their professional job”.

Ms Barrett also said both the fire and ambulance service work hand-in-hand, to rescue victims of road traffic collisions. “When the firefighters are turning up to the scene of an accident they are responding in a professional manner, and when they are working alongside colleagues in the Ambulance service, their job is to deal with patient safety and cut people out of cars”.

The Kildare Christmas road safety campaign will run from today December 9^th until Sunday January 9^th 2011.

Interview with Kildare Mayor Cllr Brendan Weld.mp3

Interview with Kildare Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh.mp3

Interview with Garda Inspector Jim Doyle.mp3

Interview with Kildare Chief Fire Officer Celina Barrett.mp3

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Severe Weather Alert

Before you make a journey, ask yourself, it this journey really necessary?
If you feel it is, and you insist on making a journey in such hazardous conditions, ple.....

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Before you make a journey, ask yourself, it this journey really necessary?
If you feel it is, and you insist on making a journey in such hazardous conditions, please be prepared. Ensure your windscreen, mirrors, lights & indicators are cleared of any snow, frost or ice. Have sufficient fuel in your tank and be conscious of the locations along your journey.

In the event of a breakdown or being stranded on the road, you should have the following items with you: a fully charged mobile phone, fuel reserves, a high visibility vest, a warning triangle, warm clothing, a blanket and water.

If you brake-down on a road or Motorway, please try to park the vehicle as far in off the road as possible and ring the nearest family member, friend or recovery service for assistance immediately. Notify the Gardai. NEVER walk along the motorway, especially at nighttime.

If you have to drive in these conditions, please do so with extreme care and caution, and be prepared.

Making an Emergency Stop
As a driver, in the event of you having to make an emergency or sudden stop, you need extra space and time for this to happen. That is why, in hazardous road conditions, it is vital that you leave about four car spaces between you and the vehicle in front.

Leaving this space will give you that extra time to firstly, realise what’s happening ahead, secondly, react by gearing down to slow your speed and thirdly, coming to a safe and complete stop.

Pedestrian Safety:
When walking in the snow, wrap up and wear gloves, BE SEEN, wear high visibility material. Pedestrians should wear suitable footwear with good grips. While out walking, walk slowly, taking short steps. Don’t walk with your hands in your pocket, just in case you fall or slip, and be careful when crossing roads, never walk out onto a road that would force a vehicle to make a sudden stop.

Gritting of roads:
Road crews and gritters will be out in force across the county over the coming days and nights, treating as many main roads as possible. However, not every road may be treated, such as local and back roads, and roads in and out of housing and industrial estates. Drivers should be aware that, although a road may have been gritted, this does not mean it is entirely safe to drive on at regular speeds, and motorists should drive treated roads with extreme care and caution.

Travelling up or downhills:
While driving on snow or ice and you are traveling uphill, you need to keep moving as much as possible, because, if you stop, it could be difficult to start again as the wheels may begin to spin. If there is another vehicle climbing a hill in front of you, be patient; let it get to the top before you start your climb, moving all the time and in the highest gear possible.

When driving downhill, remember to use a low gear and a very slow speed. You can use your gears to help you slow down.

Using brakes:
If you need to brake while driving on snow or ice, don’t slam on the brakes. If you do, the wheels may lock but the vehicle may keep moving, in any direction. If your car has ABS (anti-lock braking system), you should apply steady pressure to the brake until the vehicle has stopped.

For cars without ABS, again, don’t slam on the brakes. If you have done, release the brakes and then almost immediately, reapply them gently, and repeat this until the car has stopped.

If you have to drive in these conditions, please do so with extreme care and caution and be prepared.

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Irish Road Safety Week

This week in Irish Road Safety Week and Kildare county council's road safety officer has a number of initiatives and campaigns lined up once again this year.

The Road Safety roadshow will be.....

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This week in Irish Road Safety Week and Kildare county council's road safety officer has a number of initiatives and campaigns lined up once again this year.

The Road Safety roadshow will be visible throughout the county as it visits schools, colleges, Youthreach centres, shopping centres and towns. Two campaigns in particular being featured this year are the Primary schools Road Safety Calendar cempetition and the B.A.R.D. Boyz Against Road Deaths.

The calendar competition allows primary school cildren to enter their drawing in any of the three catagory's. Four winners each will be chosen from three catagory's: (i) Be Safe Be Seen, (ii) Crossing a road safely and (iii) Seatbelt wearing.

B.A.R.D. means 'Boyz Against Road Deaths'. This is a new initiative by road safety officer Declan Keogh who wishes to establish a forum among young drivers or the stereotypical Boyracres. The aim of BARD is to change the attitude of young male drivers, and the public towards young male drivers, and to help young drivers become safer drivers.

Road safety officer Declan Keogh says: 'There is a perception out there that young male drivers, or as they are known, Boyracres are the cause of most serious and fatal collisions on our roads, and they get a hard time in general. This campaign aims to establish a forum among young drivers throughout the county whereby they can discuss their concerns and voice their opinion'.

Those who become a member of B.A.R.D. will recieve a loyalty card and also may benefit from a number of incentives as part of the group, following their attendance and participation in road safety programmes and courses.

Elsewhere, a number of road safety educational programmes are being delivered to schools and youthreach centres across the county also this week and the road safety stand will be in atendance at the White Water shopping centre in newbridge on Friday 15th October 2010. Kildare is once again a host to European Night Without Accident. This is Kildare's fourth year to participate in this Eurowide initiative.

For more on whats happening, check out our website or add Kildare RoadSafety on facebook. Facebookers are asked to ensure that the words RoadSafety are one word.

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Fatal Crash: Pedestrian killed

Gardai at Athy, Co. Kildare, are investigating a fatal road traffic collision that occurred on the M7, at the M7/M9 junction on the 1^st Oct 2010.

The collision o.....

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Kildare Crash - Two Fatalities

Gardai in Carbury, Co. Kildare are investigating the circumstances of a serious crash in which two men died. The incident occured at Ballinakill, Broadford Co. Kildare on the 19th August 2010.
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Donegal tragedy could happen in Kildare

Kildare county council's road safety officer fears that overloading in cars is still occuring, particularly among young people. Declan Keogh says what happened in Donegal was horrific,.....

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Major Drug Driving Road Safety Campaign for Oxegen

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A major road safety awareness campaign has been launched to coincide with this weekends Oxegen music festival at Punchestown. The campaign is focusing on Drug Driving and festival goers are reminded of the legal and social consequences of driving while under the influence of illegal or controlled substances.

This national campaign called 'Be Part of It' is headed by Kildare county council, the Kildare Joint Policing Committee and the Regional Drugs Task Force and is supported by the Road Safety Authority and concert promoters MCD.

The initiative invites festival goers to help promote the message by posing with a bill-board of life sized mug-shots which illustrated social and legal penalties such as "A Drug Conviction can lead to foreign travel restrictions." The message ambassadors took the opportunity to pledge not to drive or travel in vehicles where the driver is under the influence of substances. The photographs are then posted to Facebook ("Kildare Drug-Driving Awareness - I'm Part of It") as part of a strategy to encourage people to link as active participants in a social campaign. The participating message ambassadors are also entered into a competition for a range of prizes.

Kildare's road safety officer Declan Keogh welcomes the campaign. 'Drug driving poses many and varied risks and dangers to drivers and the aim of this campaign is to highlight the risks associated with drug driving. Kildare Road Safety is delighted to be associated with the Joint Policing Committee for this campaign and I feel it will help to serve as a great deterrent to young drivers'.

Festival goers are invited to the road safety tent at Oxegen where they can have their picture taken for facebook and also take a test drive on the driving simulator, brake reaction tester or use the beer goggles. Kildare's Garda Chief Superintendent Michael Byrnes said ''This campaign demonstrates the benefits of working co-operatively with our partners in the new local Policing Fora across the County. Serious problems in society require a concerted effort between communities and authorities to find solutions. This imaginative project aims to engage with younger people to stimulate awareness of the risks posed by illegal drug use. It is important that people appreciate the far reaching and life limiting consequences involved in illegal drug use. I hope that the younger community can identify with the message and become partners in combating illegal drug use.''

''I want to acknowledge the efforts of the County Kildare Joint Policing Committee in taking a positive step towards addressing one of the most serious concerns of our community. This I know is just the first step in a detailed awareness campaign that will roll out from September onwards and we in An Garda Síochána are happy to be associated with this initiative.'

Concert promoters MCD are advising motorists to take care on their journey to Oxegen. Justin Green says 'Where possible people should use public transport or avail of the avail of the Park & ride system at Goffs. For those who must travel by car, we would encourage them to drive safely to and from the event, having regard for other people on the road'.

Tens of thousands of people are expected on the roads over the three days, and Monday morning is expected to be the busiest with the majority of those leaving the venue. Declan Keogh is urging drivers to plan ahead, expect long delays and follow the directional signs and instructions of the Gardai and stewards. Motorists are also advised to listen for traffic reports on the radio.

Meanwhile Noel Brett CEO, Road Safety Authority advised "This weekend should be about enjoying the best of Irish and international music in the company of good friends. If driving is essential, don't take chances. Slow down, never ever drink or take drugs and ensure seatbelts are worn by all. Also, remember you will most likely be suffering from a serious lack of sleep after the festival and stuck behind the wheel for hours so beware of the 'silent killer' that is Driver Fatigue. Drink plenty of coffee, take frequent breaks and power naps and most importantly never fight sleep at the wheel or you may never wake up!"

Mr. Brett also had the following message for passengers "Your life is in the hands of your driver so don't be afraid or embarrassed to tell them to slow down or drive more carefully if you are worried about your safety."

For full and comprehensive details on the Garda Traffic Plan for Oxegen 2010, please see www.garda.ie

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Road Safety Promotions Team

Kildare county council’s road safety officer is seeking volunteers to assist and work with at road safety stands at events and festivals throughout the county. These events are high profile, largely attend.....

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