Ben is pictured (front) at the recent award presentation with l-r Ciaran Doherty, Translink General Manager – Bus & Rail Services, Stuart Chisholm, Ben’s subject teacher at Saintfield High School, Chris McLaughlin, Road Safety Education Manager, Department of the Environment, Ben’s parents Basil and Kim Colhoun, Nicky McBride, Education Authority – South Eastern Region, Ms Vivien Watt, Principal of Saintfield High School and Brendan Magee, MVRUS Chair of Examiners, CCEA.

-Translink and DOE Road Safety urge public to stay safe on local transport network

Translink and DOE Road Safety Education today have presented the 2015 Ulsterbus Cup to Ben Colhoun, a pupil from Saintfield High School, Co. Down.

There have been 72 road traffic collision fatalities this year in Northern Ireland (as at Dec 21) with an increase in male driver fatalities (30 fatalities as at Dec 21) and the ages 25 – 64 shown to be the most at-risk group*.

The Ulsterbus Cup highlights this serious issue of travel safety in Northern Ireland. This is the 21st year of the annual awards presentation that promotes effective road safety education to ensure responsible behaviour from pedestrians, passengers and motorists.

Ben won the Cup in recognition of being Northern Ireland’s top performing pupil in the GCSE subject of Motor Vehicle and Road User Studies (MVRUS) which covers a range of topics including: the Highway Code; alcohol abuse amongst road users; motoring mechanics and legal driving requirements.

Speaking at a special presentation in Laganside Buscentre also attended by DENI, CCEA and South Eastern Education Authority representatives, Ciaran Doherty, General Manager – Bus & Rail Services, Translink, said: “The high number of road traffic collision fatalities in Northern Ireland this year continues to be a major concern. Every tragedy leaves behind grieving friends and family who have to try and deal with the loss of a loved one.

“The Ulsterbus Cup shines a spotlight on important travel safety messages and reminds everyone to be vigilant and responsible at all times while using the local transport network – especially at this time of year when there can be additional hazards such as hostile weather conditions making travel conditions more difficult.

“Safety is always Translink’s top priority and we implement a wide range of safety awareness initiatives every year to try to reduce the number of safety – related incidents across the bus and rail network.**

“We would like to congratulate Ben and Saintfield High School on winning the Ulsterbus Cup and hope that this outstanding performance reminds other young people to keep road safe,” said Ciaran.

Chris McLaughlin, Road Safety Education Manager with the Department of the Environment said: "Today marks a great achievement for Ben. Not only has he come top amongst his fellow students at Saintfield High School but he is also the top Northern Ireland student in this subject.  This is no mean feat considering the number of pupils and indeed schools taking up the subject in recent years."

"Ben’s result demonstrates a tremendous awareness and understanding of road safety knowledge and skills - both from a theoretical, and more importantly, practical manner and he deserves great credit.   The Motor Vehicle & Road User Studies course, although just one of many educational interventions aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads, is of considerable importance in reaching young pre-drivers at a very influential stage in their lives. 

“The DOE’s team of Road Safety Education Officers, in partnership with CCEA, will continue to promote the subject and I would encourage other schools to consider offering it as a GCSE to their pupils."

The Ulsterbus Cup is delivered in partnership between Translink and the Department of the Environment’s Road Safety Education Officer Service.