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Would you ‘shop’ your son for
drink driving?
31.03.09
DONEGAL road safety
promoters will today launch a radical new campaign
to encourage people to report friends or loved ones
for drink driving, dangerous driving or speeding.
The campaign called 'Tough Love' is a collaboration
between the Donegal Road Safety Working Group and
the Gardai.
It is the first of its kind in Ireland and will ask
people, particularly young girls and mothers, to
report sons, partners or friends, whom they fear
will cause a serious accident on the roads.
Donegal road safety officer Eamonn Brown said the
campaign required a big culture shift but was
necessary to save lives. He said while the awareness
campaigns reached the majority of the public, young
male drivers in the 17-24 age group were proving
difficult to reach. |
"So many times after
the death of a young driver, we hear the line 'it
was only a matter of time'. This is a way for people
to intervene at an early stage and hopefully prevent
another death on the roads,” said Mr Brown.
He said the new number was not intended as a 'snitch
line' or fast route to prosecution.
"After someone makes a report, Gardai will follow
that up by talking to the person in question and
telling him that people are concerned about his
behaviour. They will tell him that they will |
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be keeping an eye on
his driving. We hope that this will be enough to
change their attitude to driving in future."
The campaign urges people to "Speak Up 2 Save Lives"
and adds: "Don't wait until he has killed you,
himself or someone else. Regrets don't save lives -
now is the time for Tough Love". The new line - 087
9809999 - is a mobile number that allows people to
call or text in confidence. It is designed to
complement existing services such as Traffic Watch
and the Garda Confidential Line. ‘Tough Love’ will
be launched today at 1pm at The Loft, Donegal Youth
Services, Port Road, Letterkenny. |
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