Hard-hitting road safety show returns to Mayo

HUNDREDS of Mayo students will hear first-hand accounts of the impacts of traffic accidents when the AXA Roadsafe Roadshow returns to the county next month.

Mayo is the only venue hosting the award-winning programme, which educates future young drivers.

The hard-hitting event takes place for the first time in four years on April 11 at the TF Royal Hotel in Castlebar.

Already, some 1,600 secondary school students are booked in to attend, Mayo's road safety officer, Gary Smyth, told a meeting of Mayo County Council's roads and transportation strategic policy committee.

Speakers include Stevo Timothy, also known as Farmer Michael, who was left in a wheelchair following a motorbike accident in which his passenger was killed.

The roadshow mixes theatre, video and first-hand accounts from gardaí and emergency services to highlight the dangers of driving. Family members of victims to road accidents also share their stories.