Hazzard announces £73,000 for local road safety initiatives

Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard has allocated £73,000 for local road safety initiatives as part of the Department's Road Safety Grant Scheme.

Minister Chris Hazzard accompanied by representatives of the organisations awarded funding through the 2016/17 DfI Road Safety Grant Scheme.

Mr Hazzard said:

“Road traffic collisions and their devastating consequences hit right at the core of our communities. Government works hard to inform road users of the problem issues in order to help them make good choices when using the roads. The evidence tells us, that good choices by road users, saves lives.

“I know that government can’t succeed on its own and I recognise the valuable role the voluntary and community sector plays in helping us work towards reducing death and injury on our roads. This is why, through the Road Safety Grant Scheme, I continue to support local road safety initiatives which allow us to deliver powerful road safety messages to the heart of communities addressing their specific road safety problems.”

Minister Hazzard continued:

“Already this year 48 people have been killed on our roads.  The only way to reduce these deaths is for everyone on the road to make better choices and safer decisions, on every journey.

“Collectively, as a community, we need to work towards zero road deaths.  The efforts of the whole community will surely help in bringing us closer to this goal. After all, we all share the road, so we should all share the responsibility.”

Notes to editors: 

1. Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard launched the 2016/17 Road Safety Grant Scheme on 16 June 2016.
2. The scheme offered individuals and community groups an opportunity to apply for funding of up to £10,000 to develop and deliver local road safety initiatives.

The organisations which will benefit from funding are as follows:

RoadSafe NI Ltd - Across Northern Ireland

£9,238

This project intends to develop a short video showing why managing work related road risk should be a major priority for all organisations.

The video will show both sides of managing work related road safety, the implications of getting it wrong and the positive benefits of getting it right.

RoadSafe NI Ltd - Across Northern Ireland

£5,840

This project is aimed at P6 and P7 pupils and is intended to raise awareness of road safety within primary schools.

It will be in a table quiz format with regional heats held across the province culminating in a Northern Ireland final.

Participating schools will then be given access to the quiz via an online link

BEAM Creative Network - Donaghmore

£9,184

This project will work with young drivers and those learning to drive to develop a script, produce and pilot a bespoke road safety theatre in education play highlighting the risks and dangers to young drivers.

The target audience will be 17 to 19 year olds who are more likely to be risk takers due to their youth and inexperience to identify dangers.

Newry & Mourne Road Safety Committee - Newry & Mourne

£1,650

The project intends to develop a post driving test course aimed at newly qualified drivers or those having passed their test within the last six months. The aim of the course is to raise road safety awareness in order to prevent and reduce the number of road traffic collisions in the local area caused by young, inexperienced drivers.

ASCERT - Across Northern Ireland

£9,934.80

The aim of this project is to reduce drink and drug driving by delivering educational sessions to at least 2,400 young people and adults in the 16 to 24 age range

The project will develop an educational session and deliver it to a target audience through sixth form groups in schools and students in Further Education colleges across Northern Ireland

New Driver Safety Ambassador - Across Northern Ireland

£9,930

This project will deliver tailored road safety presentations to post 16 year olds in schools and colleges throughout Northern Ireland.

The programme will aim to develop / improve young drivers’ safety by:

• encouraging better driving
• influencing passengers’ behaviour
• peer mentoring of young drivers
• improving confidence while driving

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association - Across Northern Ireland

£9,768

This project aims to introduce a tactile paving toolkit for use by Habilitation specialists to support children and young people between the ages of 7 to 13 to navigate travel routes confidently and independently.

The toolkit will explain all seven types of tactile paving found in the built environment by using individual replica samples for all seven tactile paving types, a captivating adventure story book and an accompanying activity / workbook to reinforce the learning

Fermanagh Community Transport - Fermanagh & Omagh area

£10,000

This project aims to provide road safety training to adults over 60 years old which will include drug and alcohol awareness training, practical driver training, speed awareness, highway code refresher training a practical driving assessment and tuition.

Cashel Community Association - Belleek / Garrison

£9,257.50

This project aims to provide road safety awareness training to children to help keep them safe on rural roads.

There will be a series of workshops facilitated by a theatre group to develop and produce a drama sketch educating the children on the rules of the road and will include guidelines on the use of bicycles and walking.

3. Media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure press office on 028 9054 0007. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
4. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra

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