Hynes Quinn "Safe Driving" Schools Project
21st February 2005

Hynes-Quinn Driving School has been joining forces with post-primary schools for the last number of years for an innovative and rewarding project. The driving school were pleased to have had the opportunity of delivering their "safe driving" schools projects to various schools throughout Ireland.

Noel Quinn, owner of the driving school and a past pupil of Marian College, along with the driving school’s team of instructors of Ted Mulcahy and James Moran, began the project with the objective of promoting awareness, creating a better understanding of learning to drive, safe driving and the hazards involved.

The “Safe Driving” Schools Project is delivered with a two-fold approach in mind. It incorporates classroom theory sessions which involve a panel of representatives from the Garda Siochana/Fire Brigade and an accident victim being invited to talk to the students with the objective of promoting awareness and safe driving in mind. This always stimulates the interest of the students. The other aspect of the project involves each student undertaking a driving lesson in one of the driving schools’ dual-control cars within the school grounds.

The driving lesson is geared towards the needs of each Individual student.

On many of the local occurrences of the project, the panel has consisted of representatives: Leitrim County Council Road Safety Officer, Irene Connolly, Mohill Fire Brigade Station Officer , Michael Reynolds, and accident victim, Liam Briody. Liam gives a detailed and interesting account of the importance of safe driving and awareness at a young age.

This project, while having the backing of the various representatives that form the panel, also has the full support of the Department of Education and Ford Ireland.

The project is a USA-based idea and Noel Quinn has attended conferences on this project in England and Japan on a number of occasions

We believe we are the only driving school in Ireland to provide such a unique, valuable and worthwhile project to post-primary schools.

When the project came to the Marian College, Mohill, Gabriel Earley, Transition Year Coordinator, and her students, highly praised its content. To date the “Safe Driving” Schools Project has come highly recommended by the numerous secondary schools who have participated throughout the country with further bookings, including 20 Dublin schools.

Noel Quinn, feels that this course is vital in promoting safe driving at a young age and recommends that it be considered an essential part of the school curriculum.

“If we were to look at this “Safe Driving” course as a means of eliminating one road traffic accident, well then it will certainly have proved most beneficial,” Noel said.