Hollybush Primary School won the Northern Ireland Primary School Road Safety Quiz for the first time, topping the 22 teams that participated in the final held at the NI Fire and Rescue Training Centre in Belfast on 20th February 2017.
They narrowly edged out St. Annes Primary School, marking a Northwest 1-2. Schools from Derry/Londonderry have a strong record in the quiz, which continued this year. St. Patrick’s Primary School from Hilltown came in third.
The quiz, designed for P7 pupils, covers road safety, road signs, and general knowledge. Celebrating over 20 years, the quiz received a significant boost this year with a Department for Infrastructure Road Safety Grant. This allowed the quiz to expand to all 11 council areas, with over 160 schools participating.
Joan Kinnaird, Chairperson of event organiser’s Road Safe NI, said “We have been overwhelmed with the response to this year’s quiz. It is vital that primary school children receive road safety education and the quiz is a fun way to deliver serious messages in an engaging way. Everyone involved is encouraged to take the important lessons back to their homes and schools.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Mr Alan Walmsley, commented that the NIFRS were delighted to provide the venue for the evening and support Road Safe NI in its activities. He said that every day his officers are called upon to visit the scenes of at least two serious road traffic collisions on Northern Ireland’s roads to provide help and rescue for ordinary people injured and trapped in vehicles.
Tony McKeown from event sponsors CRASH Services said, “As a local business we are delighted to be able to support the event. We are involved in accident management and breakdown recovery services, so we have a close connection with road users and we are pleased to get involved with road safety projects like this.”
