Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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232. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to a road safety campaign focusing on visibility and awareness for vulnerable road users such as cyclists, schoolchildren and joggers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8908/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​The Road Safety Strategy 2013 to 2020, includes measures to promote the use of personal protection equipment and high visibility clothing, for vulnerable road users such as cyclists, school children and joggers, which are heavily funded by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The Strategy includes an Action to 'Develop a standardised road safety cycling training proficiency programme for children and seek to make this programme available to as many schools as possible.' The program encourages road awareness and being visible when cycling, and a pilot roll-out of the program in a number of schools across the country commenced in Autumn 2015. Assimilated training has taken place to bring existing trainers up to the new standard and further training will be available for those wishing to attain the new standard. A training register is administered by Cycling Ireland.  Rollout of 'CycleRight' to all interested schools began in recent weeks, funded by my Department and the RSA.

The RSA is continuing a number of road safety campaigns during 2017 through traditional media as well as through media aimed at younger people (digital and social media, cinema, in pubs, etc.) regarding speeding, seat-belt wearing, distracted driving/use of mobile phones, and alcohol and drug driving. In addition RSA National Promotional Officers visit national and secondary schools to promote road safety awareness and the RSA work with other organisations, e.g., Motorsport Ireland at rally events and local authority Safety Officers to promote road safety to younger age groups. The RSA run the 'Be Safe Be Seen' campaign, particularly through digital and social media used more by younger persons, throughout the year but with a particular focus when schools resume and in the winter months.

I am also currently looking at other ways to ensure all road users, particularly cyclists and pedestrians, are highly visible at night, as that is sadly a cause for a high number of road deaths.