20 June 2003
Translink is urging parents in the Derry area to keep their children safe this summer by keeping them off the local railway line.
The call comes as the longest school holidays of the year approach, which, explains Translink's Seamus Scallon, heightens the need for extra vigilance:
"Left unsupervised, children often get into very dangerous situations and playing on the local railway line is a popular pastime. This is incredibly risky as trains travel at top speeds of 70mph and can take up to half a mile to stop. Unfortunately, risky activities like this multiply during the summer as children have lots of free time on their hands.
"While it is impossible to accompany children wherever they go, we all have a responsibility to ensure their safety and a vital first step is to teach them that railway lines are extremely dangerous places to play and that they should not be tempted to stray onto them.
"As parents are the first point of reference for their children, we would urge them to start this education process by communicating the dangers to their children before the summer holidays get underway."
For details on a range of Translink road and rail safety initiatives, log onto www.translink.co.uk
Ends
For further information please contact Dana McCusker at Morrow Communications on 028 9039 3837.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Stumbleupon