A no-holds-barred road safety initiative which targets teenagers was rolled out to more than 2,000 students in County Wexford, Ireland, over the New Year.

The Just 1 Life programme, which is run by the Wexford Rotary Club in partnership with Wexford County Council, is aimed at increasing road safety awareness among young people and the prevention of road traffic deaths.

Over the past 17 years, more than 20,000 students have participated in the programme in Wexford, and a further 10,000 students in Kildaire. The programme, which originated in Australia, also operated in a further eight counties.

The campaign which was launched at the National Opera House in Wexford, with organisers aiming to reach over students from 24 schools across Wexford in five sessions stretching into early 2024.

Calodagh McCumiskey from Wexford Rotary said the feedback from students, educators, the Gardai and medical emergency teams to the programme has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We believe the key to the success of ‘Just 1 Life’ is that it enables us to connect with mid to late teenagers at a key stage in their development,” explained Calodagh.

“Most of the teenagers who participate are transition year students who will not yet have gotten behind the wheel of a car. The programme allows us to show them that while driving can be hugely beneficial it also comes with a host of responsibilities.

“We bring in presenters who have experienced road traffic accidents themselves, as well as members of the emergency services and consultants who deal with the outcomes of road traffic accidents on a regular basis.

“Through these presentations and the use of relevant video we highlight to students the stark and often tragic results of inappropriate driving or road use behaviour.

“We have found that the hard-hitting testimonies of people who have been in accidents or those of emergency responders often have the greatest impact on students and help them to make better and more informed choices with regard to road safety in the following years.”

Kenny Fisher, District Governor of Rotary Ireland, said the past year has seen a sharp rise in road traffic fatalities, particularly among young people.

“Sadly, far too many people are being killed on Irish roads. We believe a lot of young drivers – and their passengers - currently do not have an awareness or appreciation of the potential lifechanging consequences which road traffic accidents can have.

“Many young drivers often see themselves as invincible and we need to show them just how dangerous and misplaced that perception of invincibility is.

“We have seen how well Just 1 Life works in Wexford and other counties such as Kildare and Sligo. We have a template which works, and we are very keen to explore with Government ways which we could expand the programme and make it an integral part of the secondary school curriculum.”

Rotary Ireland has already had a meeting with the Road Safety Authority about the Just 1 Life programme and December’s launch was attended by Eilish McDonagh, Senior Road Safety Officer with Ireland’s Road Safety Authority.