Children who are set to start primary school next month will receive a high-visibility vest, it has been confirmed.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the ESB will distribute 80,000 vests to junior infants as part of the Back to School road safety campaign.

RSA chief executive Noel Brett said: "Every year, we remind parents and guardians to make sure that road safety is a priority on their child's back to school checklist and this year is no different."

He added that children are "the most vulnerable of our road users", emphasising the need to make them more aware of the dangers of the road.

Irish Health reported that the Back to School pack, which will be sent to every primary and secondary school, will also contain leaflets, CDs and posters.

In 2008, the RSA confirmed there were 279 deaths on Ireland's roads - a decline of 17 per cent on 2007's figures when 338 people lost their lives.

Written by Donal Walsh

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