Derry businesswoman launches road safety campaign
A Derry businesswoman whose invention of an inflatable child’s car seat went global after ppearing on Dragon’s Den has now launched a campaign highlighting the dangers of distracted driving.
Grainne Kelly, the creator and founder of BubbleBum, the multi award-winning kids’ inflatable car booster seat, visited St Patrick’s Primary School, Pennyburn, in Derry to launch the road safety campaign called #I Love You Enough.
The campaign asks parents to take the pledge to their children at www.ILoveYouEnough,com where they promise ‘#I love you enough never to touch my mobile phone while driving’.
Once parents have done so, they are then encouraged to share the message through social media.
Ms Kelly developed the campaign following a Safer Roads, Safer Kids Conference in the USA last December.
Ms Kelly was motivated to create the campaign after she witnessed a fatal crash while travelling to the airport and met teenage survivors of distracted driving while at the conference.
“I was so moved by their experiences and knowing that over 500 children around the world die on the roads every day, I had to try and do something to prevent drivers being distracted by their phones,” she said.
“If you are touching your phone you are distracted. It is that simple. Distracted driving, speeding and poor road infrastructure are the three main causes of crashes globally. By taking the pledge not to touch their phone while driving, drivers will be making a meaningful difference to the safety of themselves, their loved ones and others on the road. You are never alone on the road, even when you are the only one in your vehicle.”
She added: “Record a voicemail message such as ‘I am sorry I cannot take your call at the minute. I am either on another call or driving and will call you back when I am free and it is safe to do so’.
“Businesses can download an App called ROMEX which makes it impossible to access messages while the vehicle is in motion.”
Eamon Devlin, principal of St Patrick’s Primary School, Pennyburn, Derry said he was delighted that the school was chosen to take part in the launch of the initiative.
“I’m very proud that our school community is part of this pilot scheme,” he said.
“We protect the children while in school. It is important that parents and carers do the same when driving. I hope everyone takes the pledge and upholds it.”
Inspector Rosie Leech of the PSNI said that the police also firmly supported the message behind the #I Love You Enough campaign.
“We welcome any initiative to make our roads and, most importantly, our children and young people safer.
“Drivers have a responsibility to pay attention to changing road conditions, anticipate what other road users might do and concentrate on their own driving performance, particularly when children and young people are involved.
“Switch your phone to silent, place it out of reach or install an App that rewards the driver for ignoring calls whilst driving, are all tactics that will assist a driver to deal with the temptation to use their phone.”
She added: “The results of being distracted while driving can be catastrophic.”
If you wish to be part of the campign go to www.ILoveYouEnough.comand take the pledge to help reduce the preventable deaths and injuries on our roads