George Clancy Club President and Terence Kearney Chairman of the Carrick on Suir Motor Club are this week announcing their contribution to Motorsport Ireland’s new road safety initiative, which is supported by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and is aimed at young drivers, particularly those aged between 17 and 24, who are most at risk on Irish roads. The initiative is part of Motorsport Ireland’s activity for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. The initiative gives Motorsport Club’s affiliated to Motorsport Ireland the opportunity to convey to society that speed KILLS on our public roads.

During the launch, club chairman Terence Kearney announced the appointment of club member Jamie Kent to the role of “Club Road Safety officer”. On accepting his new post, Jamie stated, “I’m taking this new role very seriously. We are all guilty of driving irresponsibly from time to time especially in our younger days. The safety of our young drivers is very important and the message of this new initiative is aimed particularly at those aged between 17 and 24. Motorsport reaches a large audience in Ireland and the Carrick on Suir Motor Club wants to play their part with this clear message 'Motorsport Supports Safe Driving'. Our aim is to teach not preach and encourage them to get involved in Motorsport rather then risk their lives and the lives of others on public roads. My role as Club Road Safety Officer will be to promote this new safety initiative. I will be liasing with my counterparts within the local Gardai, the County Council, the Fire Services and RSA. Working together with these bodies it’s my goal to highlight the dangers to the age group most vulnerable."

The Carrick club roled out the new initiative at the 2011 "Iverk Show" last Saturday in Piltown, Co. Kilkenny. Newly appointed Club Roads Safety Officer Jamie Kent said, "After taking on the job, I was eager to get the message out there that the Carrick on Suir Motor Club is doing it's part to promote Roads Safety. We had a stand at the Show in Piltown and were side by side with the R.S.A., I was joined by fellow club member Billy Collins for the day and together were promoting the new initiative to all ages but targeted young people who are starting out driving. Our approach to people, who were interested, young or not so young, was to introduce the new initiative and at the same time introduce Motorsport as an option, giving them information on how to get into each of the discipline of Motorsport under the Motorsport Ire umbrella. We also illustrated the safety features of a rallycar compared to a normal road car. The response was unbelievable, with people being very enthusiastic and wanting to find out more about both the initiative and the different types of Motorsport."

Club president George Clancy said during the launch, “I've been involved in Motorsport for more than 50 years and the sport has gone through major changes during that time, likewise motoring here in Ireland has changed over the years. I was one of the founding members of the Carrick on Suir Motor Club back in 1958 and cars were few and far between at that time but in today's world it's the norm to have at least two cars per household. It's also not unusual to see secondary school students drive to school these days. For a young person to own and drive a car brings newfound independence but at that age you don’t see the dangers or choose not to recognise them, any vehicle driven without respect becomes a lethal weapon. I think this new partnership between Motorsport Ireland (involving the motor clubs throughout the country) and the RSA is a major step in bringing the message to the age group most at risk.

Motor Club Chairman Terence Kearney at the launch said, "This new roads safety initiative between Motorsport Ireland and the Roads Safety Authority, forms a central part of the UN's Decade of Action for Road Safety and together Motorsport Ireland and the RSA are rolling out this initiative nation wide but looking within our own Motor Club, we have members from Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny and I feel it’s important we start at a local level to educate our younger drivers. As a local Motor Club we use public roads for some of our events and it's with the support and help of the public we are allowed to this. Becoming involved with this new initiative gives us the opportunity to give something back. During the organisation and planning of our rallies etc, we work with the County Council, the Gardai and the Fire Services. This new roads safety initiative gives us another opportunity to strengthen our ties with these bodies and at the same time help to save lives. I wish Jamie the best of luck in his new post, he will not be alone with his task to highlight and promote this crucial massage."