The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has announced the winners of this year’s ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ Poster Competitions in an online ceremony, shared on RSA social media platforms. The ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ road safety programmes encourage first and second class pupils to learn about road safety, teaching them the importance of buckling up when travelling in a car, and wearing high visibility clothing when walking or cycling.
First class students in Clooney National School, Carrahan, Tulla, Co.Clare were awarded top prize in the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ competition for their poster “Wear your seatbelt or you could be going further than you thought”. In the Hi-Glo Silver competition which encourages children to be seen on the roads, second class students from Vicarstown National School, Gilcagh, Co. Cork won first prize for their “When going about your biz, wear your high vis” poster.
Sam Waide, Chief Executive, RSA, said: “The Seatbelt Sheriff and Hi-Glo Silver Awards provide school children with a fun and creative way to learn important road safety skills. Learning good road safety skills at a young age is a lesson that will benefit them for years to come. These are skills that will keep them and others safe when out and about on our roads, whether that is a pedestrian, cyclist or passenger. I want to congratulate all the award winners, runners-up and their teachers for their hard work and amazing creativity in designing these posters, each of which sends an important message to all road users.”
The virtual awards ceremony marked the 17th year of the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ poster competitions, which this year received over a hundred entries from schools across Ireland. For the fourth year in a row, visitors to the RSA Facebook page had an opportunity to choose their favourite poster from this year’s shortlist. The winning schools in the Public Choice Award were St. Peter’s NS, Dromiskin, Dundalk, Co. Louth in the Seatbelt Sheriff public vote, while Vicarstown NS, Gilcagh, Co. Cork also scooped the public choice in the Hi-Glo Silver Category. The Garda Mounted Unit also took part in the virtual awards ceremony.
Chief Superintendent Raymond McMahon, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said: “An Garda Síochána want to congratulate all the entrants to this year’s competition on their fantastic work. School children are among our most vulnerable road-users and we want to encourage parents and teachers to continue the great work being done in schools and at home in promoting safe and responsible road use at all times. By demonstrating safe behaviour any time you use the road, every one of us can set a good example to our young people. Parents can ensure their children are wearing high-visibility vests when out and about, that they are wearing a safety helmet when cycling and that their bicycles are roadworthy with brakes, tyres, chain, lights, reflectors and bell all in working order.”
Runners up in the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ competition were:
- ‘Buckle your Belt… Not your vehicle’ – St. Peter’s NS, Dromiskin, Dundalk, Co. Louth
- ‘Click Clack. Front and Back’ – Castletown Girls NS, Castletown Rd, Dundalk, Co. Louth
- ‘Buckle Up to Arrive Alive’ – Askeaton Junior National School, Askeaton, Co. Limerick
- ‘Stay Safe and Buckle Up’ – Corracrin National School, Corracrin, Emyvale, Co. Monaghan
Runners up in the ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ competition were:
- ‘Love is.. being seen together’ – Clooney N.S., Carrahan,, Tulla, Co. Clare
- ‘Glow by Day. Glow by Night and you should be alright’ – Barryroe NS, Lislevane, Bandon, Co. Cork
- ‘Be a Wiz. Wear your Hi-Viz!’ – Askeaton Jnr NS, Askeaton, Co. Limerick
- ‘Even a wiz needs a hi-vis’ – Castletown Girls School, Castletown Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth