St Paul's Student wins £1000 in Safe Motoring initiative

Anna Rice, a student from St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook, Newry was the lucky recipient of New Driver NI’s £1,000 cash draw prize after signing up to the New Driver NI Safe Motoring Pledge. The Safe Motoring Pledge is sponsored by CRASH Services and JMK Solicitors who both support the promotion of road safety and new driver education across NI.
 
Since September 2022 over 1,900 students across Northern Ireland have signed up to the pledge, committing to safe motoring in the following ways: respecting the speed limit, never using mobile devices while driving, never ever driving under the influence of drink or drugs, always wearing a seat belt and being aware that driving when tired can kill.
 
The students were entered into monthly draws for a chance to win £100, with larger prize draws in June and December 2022. Jack Toal from Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School, Newry came second in our June draw receiving £250, with a third place prize of £100 going to James Challinor from Campbell College, Belfast.
 
Emma Duffy, New Driver NI Special Projects Officer, commented “I’m delighted over 1,900 students this academic year have signed the New Driver NI’s Safe Motoring pledge, and I’m thrilled to present Anna with her cheque for £1000! The pledge is an important commitment for our young drivers in helping to create a community of safe drivers.”
 
Paul Cooney, Fleet and Repair Director at CRASH Services said “We are delighted to be able to support New Driver Safety Ambassadors. As an accident management company, we feel there is a real importance to educating young people on the importance of safe motoring as they progress into driving for the first time. We also feel the advice and support that New Driver provides is excellent in nurturing their journey from getting started, right through to tips and advice for their vehicles, scenarios, and weather conditions.”
 
Maurece Hutchinson, Managing Director at JMK Solicitors said “As a legal firm specialising in personal injury cases, many of which are a result of road traffic accidents, we feel there is a real importance to educating young people on the importance of safe motoring as they progress into driving for the first time. We are delighted to support New Driver Safety Ambassadors with their work.”
 
New Driver NI is a community interest company that aims to educate all new drivers and passengers on making good motoring decisions, to create a community of safe drivers.
 
They provide year 13 and 14 students across Northern Ireland with a magazine packed full of useful information to help them get on the road safely and stay safe once there. They offer a tailored presentation to schools to encourage good road habits, during which they invite the students to sign up to the Safe Motoring pledge.
 
The programme is completely free for schools as funding is provided by DFI Road Safety Grant Scheme, eight local PCSPs’, and corporate sponsors including, CRASH Services, Hankook Tyres, AB&C Insurance, DriveTech UK, JMK Solicitors, and Applegreen Northern Ireland.