Shocking video to show Mayo students why they need to buckle up

Almost 1,500 transition year students from all over Mayo and surrounding counties will attend the roadshow which was run in association with Mayo County Council in the TF Royal Theatre.

The roadshow depicts how a great night out can end in tragedy in a split second and includes a viewing of ‘Better buckle up, an seatbelt advert that highlights how tragic fatal car accidents involving young people have become all too common in Ireland.

You can view the clip http://www.roadsafetymayo.ie/videos/seatbelts_tvc.mpg

The Better buckle up seatbelt campaign launched in January 2012 by Queenlands government Australia, depicts a scene when you crash without a seatbelt – you might survive the impact, you might survive the body blows. But without a seatbelt to hold them back your internal organs keep travelling forwards; cracking ribs, puncturing lungs and tearing arteries from your heart. You won’t survive that. So, if you’re looking for a New

Year’s resolution, why not choose one that could help you be here for many more new years. Here for Life.

The campaign aims to educate and encourage people to change their behaviour by considering the consequences of what may happen if they don’t wear their seatbelt, and to make seatbelt wearing an automatic behaviour.

While the message applies to the wider community, it is especially targeted towards males aged 17–24 who represent the most at-risk groups in terms of seatbelt use.

Penalty points

Noel Gibbons, Road Safety Officer with Mayo County Council, said : “Better buckle up seatbelt campaign deals with the non-wearing of seatbelts by both drivers and passengers which continues to be an issue not only in Mayo, but across the entire country and EU, despite many years of high profile campaigning.

“The Gardai stop thousands of drivers every year for failing to restrain themselves properly, or restrain their passengers properly. In 2011, over 13,649 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued to drivers who failed to wear seat belts properly in the vehicle – and one can only imagine the impact this would have had should those vehicles have been involved in a collision,” added Mr Gibbons.

Recognising that many people are killed or seriously injured on our roads, the show aims to positively influence those drivers who are about to start out on what will hopefully be a long and safe motoring career.