Schull gardai are honoured for road safety innovation

BY EMMA CONNOLLY 

SCHULL Garda Station has been awarded a prestigious Road Safety Authority Leading Lights award for 2017 for their work in making the Mizen Peninsula a safer place for everyone. 

The award was presented to Sgt James O’Donovan and gardai Jonathan McCarthy and Anthony Roche for their innovation in promoting land and sea safety throughout the region which includes areas such as Goleen, Ballydehob, Schull and Crookhaven. 

They won the Emergency Services category, beating off competition from 160 other nominees. The Mizen is policed by the team of four who carry out both policing duties and who also dedicate their time to promoting road, land and sea safety starting, with visits to local crèches. 

They also bring their campaign to primary and secondary schools in the area several times a year to promote road safety, regularly distribute high visibility clothing and promote cycle safety to the large groups of cyclists each weekend on the Mizen. 

Other initiatives include handing out a large number of ‘Keep Your Distance’ window stickers, RSA Lights and Hi-Vis materials while on patrol and this Christmas they are distributing RSA safety packs. 

A highlight of their work this year was an all-inclusive Safety at Land and at Sea information day which involved all members of the community and emergency services. 

Sgt O’Donovan said: ‘Every lifestyle on the Mizen Peninsula was covered that day, from the agricultural and maritime sector to road users and more. It all comes down to education and involving the public.’

His advice to road users this Christmas is to light up and to slow down.

‘Make the necessary preparations for nights out, but do the same for the morning after and give yourself enough time before you get back behind the wheel,’ he said.