Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Ms. Hildegarde Naughton, has confirmed that she intends to double the fine for failing to stop at a school warden sign.
This, she says, will see the fine increase from €80 to €160 “in the very near future”.
The measure is part of her recent announcement of the doubling of fines for “key” road traffic offences which are putting road users “most at risk” on our roads.
She has urged the public to slow down when in the vicinity of schools, watch out for children and school wardens and most importantly, always heed their directions to stop.
The announcement comes as the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána call on drivers to watch out for children as they return to school.
Learning portal
The appeal to share the roads safely with returning students was made at the launch of the RSA’s new online learning portal, a 3D road safety adventure ahead of the new school year.
The online learning portal aims to educate primary and secondary school students on road safety in a” fun, interactive and safe” learning environment, accessible in the classroom and at home.
The authority desired to move with changes so that they could continue to offer a “first-class” road safety learning experience for all students.
The learning portal is a new virtual learning hub harnessing “innovative” technology.
The new virtual space showcases road safety topics, including the Safe Cross Code, seatbelts, distracted driving, the consequences of drink or drug driving, and speeding.
Casted as avatars, the students are fully engaged in the vital road safety messaging they need to learn while also stopping off to have fun in themed rooms where they can hang and meet up with close friends.
Road safety
With children returning to school over the coming days and weeks, An Garda Síochána has said that we can expect increased traffic volumes on our roads, especially around schools.
It has urged all parents and guardians to remind children about road safety and take extra care when dropping or collecting children from schools.
It has appealed to all road users to be extra vigilant when driving near schools and school wardens.
Drivers should also expect to see a rise in the number of children using ‘active modes’ of transport such as cycling, walking, or scooting to get to school.
To date in 2022, a total of 105 people have died on Irish roads, 17 more than the same period in 2021, RSA figures show.
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