Official opening of new world leading Road Safety Centre, supported by the Fisher Foundation

The new 2000 sq ft Fisher Foundation Motorsport Safety and Road Safety Experience Centre in Scotstown, Monaghan has been officially opened. The purpose built Centre is designed to educate, increase drivers skills and to promote the principles of road safety, highlighting their responsibilities when driving and as passengers.

Representatives from the Fisher Foundation and Rally School Ireland at the official opening of the Fisher Foundation driver and motorsport safety centre

The new centre received significant investment from the Fisher Foundation. Rally School Ireland started as something fun with a purpose built track and a few cars. The school has expanded over the years and now with the development of this safety centre, a new mission has been added: Keeping people alive when they’re driving on the road. Open to organisations, individuals, schools etc, the centre applies motorsport insights to road safety using a range of equipment including virtual reality.

 

The continued support of motor safety initiatives is at the heart of the Fisher Foundation in recognition of Bertie Fisher’s long established interest. Safety in rallying was always of paramount importance to the three time Ulster Rally winner and during the 1980s he became increasingly aware of the need for improvement in safety standards at Irish rallies. To highlight the urgency in addressing the problem, Bertie, already one of the top Irish drivers withdrew from competitive rallying in 1986 to enable him to assist event organisers in the promotion and implementation of improved safety standards.

Ernie Fisher, Chairman of the Fisher Foundation welcomed the opening of the development. “The Fisher Foundation is delighted to be able to support this impressive road safety centre. It is equipped for lectures and state of the art equipment for practical demonstrations for all to experience potential scenarios. There’s no doubt it will have a significant impact in improving safety, which is the ethos of our Foundation and the work we do. Congratulations to everyone involved and our very best wishes to Rally School Ireland.”

 

David Smyth, founder of Rally School Ireland added “We are hugely thankful to the Fisher Foundation for their support of this new centre which will impart high level skills to preserve life on the road. This helps us create a practical learning environment, not just talking, but doing it, seeing it and being part of it.”

The Fisher Foundation was established in 2003 and IS administered by the Fermanagh Trust. the foundation serves as a permanent reminder to the lives of Bertie, Mark and Emma Fisher with a focus on voluntary work overseas and rally safety.