Emergency services give road safety presentation at St Joseph's

As part of Road Safety Week, Newry, Mourne and Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) and the PSNI, have delivered road safety presentations to schools throughout the district. 

The ‘Your Choice’ presentation was delivered to over 600 students who are close to driving age, and covered topics such as distracted driving, pedestrian safety and driving in hazardous weather conditions. These topics were chosen to help prepare students as they begin their journey on our roads. 

In St Joseph’s Boys High School, Newry, senior students from the school also got to experience and witness the aftermath of a road traffic collision.  In the playground students were faced with the scene of an accident where the Fire Service demonstrated how they work to retrieve the victims before the PSNI outlined the steps they took to assess the scene and deal with the driver. 

This demonstration added key depth to the ‘Your Choice’ presentation as it allowed pupils to see and experience what its like to be involved in a collision and put into perspective the need to take care whilst on the road.  

Newry, Mourne and Down PCSP Chairperson, Councillor Oonagh Hanlon said, “Newry, Mourne and Down PCSP sees road safety as one of its key priorities. Through partnership working with the Fire & Rescue Service and the PSNI, we were delighted to be able to deliver the ‘Your Choice’ presentation to students within our district. 

We feel it is vital that young people understand how important it is to adapt safe driving techniques. Through facilitating these presentations, we hope that they will take care, slow down and make the right decisions as they begin their journey as a new driver on the roads.”

For more information on safety talks for your school or youth group please contact Newry, Mourne and Down PCSP at PCSP@nmandd.org