St Malachy’s Pupils Enjoy DEA Road Safety Session

Castlewellan St Malachy’s High School pupils take part in road safety event at Bishopscourt Race Track

Castlewellan students have learned important life skills delivered through a successful DEA Young Driver’s safety initiative.

Young people of driving age from St Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan, had the opportunity to learn some important life and safety skills during their participation in Slieve Croob DEAs Young Driver’s Safety Initiative.

The initiative, which took place on Thursday 13 October, was organised in partnership with the PCSP, PSNI, Drive Techniques Driving School, NIFRS, Bishopscourt Racing Track and New Drivers NI. 

This successful event has been running for several years at Bishopscourt Racing Track to educate young people on the dangers they face when they get behind a steering wheel and help them make positive choices on the road.

At the start of the day participants took part in NIRS ‘Your Choice’ programme in which they experienced a road traffic collision using virtual reality (VR) technology. It highlighted to young drivers the dangers on our roads and what can happen if things go wrong.

Following this, the young people got their chance to drive around the course at Bishopscourt in a safe and controlled environment with an experienced driver from Drive Techniques Driving School.

Speaking about the event, the Chairperson of Slieve Croob DEA, Councillor Roisin Howell, said: “Unfortunately the roads claim too many young people’s lives in the district.

“It is vital we educate them on the importance of making positive choices on the road to keep themselves and their passengers safe.

“I would like to thank all the agencies who work together to produce this worthwhile initiative, who without them it just could not happen.”

Stephen Savage from New Drivers NI then demonstrated the importance of car maintenance and how to check on a car regularly to ensure it remains safe on the roads.

Also, he provided useful advice on insurance and completed a fun quiz which checked their knowledge on the theory test.

The PSNI and NIFRS also conducted a demonstration of a real live car cut out with some of the young people taking on the roles as casualties from the accident, experiencing how it feels to be trapped inside a car.