Simon McGuire

A community response to a community issue.

The Garda Youth Diversion Project at Moyross Youth Academy in partnership with the Lifesaver Project and supported by the National Ambulance Service, Roads Policing, LIT and others have launched the “Project Off-Road” on Wednesday the 19^th May 2021 at Corpus Christi School in Moyross, Limerick City. Project Off-Road is a community response to a growing problem with young men and women who are driving quad bikes and scramblers and other motorized vehicles on roads, paths and across the greens in urban areas. This community based project is aimed at moving these young people away from this dangerous, nuisance and illegal behaviors and onto the track, classroom and workshop with a safe and controlled environment where they can learn about the mechanics of motorcycles and how to drive them properly. The Moyross Youth Academy has partnered with The Lifesaver Project, a road safety education program which has been running in Limerick since 2006. The Lifesaver Project is run by An Garda Síochána and the HSE and supported by Limerick City and County Council. Sgt. Tony Miniter from the Roads Policing Unit in Henry Street said that: “this has been a growing problem in this community and across the country over the past year or more. All too often we see young people driving quad bikes and scramblers across green areas putting themselves and others in danger. This is a fantastic project which is being run by the Garda Project in Moyross Youth Academy which encourages young people to do something they love but in a controlled and safe environment.” Advanced Paramedic Keith Mullane who is the Operations Officer for the HSE in Limerick said “This is a great opportunity for young people to engage with staff from the Moyross Youth Academy who can show them how to use a motorcycle in a safe way, using the proper equipment and follow what they love doing.”    

The event on the 19^th May 2021 involved the recreation of a serious road traffic collision involving a car and a scrambler motorcycle. Gardaí and Ambulance staff will attend the scene and treat it as they would a similar collision. The event was witnessed by 6^thclass students from Corpus Christi School. It was be followed by a discussion on road safety between the students, Advanced Paramedic Keith Mullane and Sgt. Tony Miniter Limerick Roads Policing Unit and then was followed by a launch of the new documentary on the issue. 

Andrew O’Byrne of the Moyross Garda Youth Diversion Project stated: “during lockdown in 2020, with quieter roads and finer weather we saw an increase in the number of bikes and quads in the area. This prompted us to review our efforts in order to address this. Meeting with a group of like-minded people and agencies, the idea of a road safety awareness campaign was suggested around the proper use of scramblers. The documentary ‘Keeping it on Track’ was planned, filmed, edited and is being launched here today. Many thanks to all those involved who gave so freely and willingly of their time to bring the project to fruition”. The list of those involved is included in the end credit sequence. Tiernan O’Neill, Principal of Corpus Christi Primary School welcoming the launch at the school as we head into the Summer said “the timing of this launch ties in nicely with the Governments Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour who are looking at a three pillared approach of legislation, enforcement and community engagement in trying to address the issue. The motocross project seeks to promote the positive use of bikes and quads in a safe, controlled, regulated and fun way with proper instruction, appropriate safety gear and in a place that eliminates the nuisance, dangerous and illegal elements. The aim is to turn an ‘anti-social’ problem to a ‘pro-social’ programme in what could be a win:win situation for all concerned”.

You can view the documentary ‘Keeping It On Track’ below. This was produced by Simon with the help of the participants and local community.