Road Safety Authority (RSA) is calling on people nationwide to remember the victims of road crashes on ‘World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims’.
THE WORLD REMEMBERS THE VICTIMS OF ROAD CRASHES
– Sunday 16th November -
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is calling on people nationwide to remember the victims of road crashes on ‘World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims’, this Sunday, 16th November. The RSA will be joining forces with PARC (Promoting Awareness, Responsibility & Care on our roads) and local Road Safety Officers to mark the day and remember those who have died on our roads.
Mr Gay Byrne, Chairman, Road Safety Authority appealed to road-users to use the day as a reminder of their vulnerability on the road: “This Sunday, ‘World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims’ provides us all with an opportunity to remember those whose lives have been tragically lost on our roads, and whose families have been devastated.
“Every day, another person dies or is seriously injured on our roads. This can’t go on. On Sunday, remember those who have died, think of the never-ending grief of their loved ones and then think about how you can change your own behaviour to ensure you and your family are safe on the road.”
Susan Gray founder and National Chairperson of PARC echoed Mr Byrne’s comments saying: "It is a very fitting tribute to all our lost loved ones, to have a day each year set aside in memory of their life on this earth. It is also a day to remember all those who have been seriously injured on our roads, many needing permanent care for the rest of their lives. This is also a day to remember all the grieving families left behind with the heartbreaking pain of never seeing our loved ones again."
The Road Safety Authority will be marking the day by distributing over 300,000 road safety DVDs featuring a series of instructional rules of the road ads, including ‘Keeping Your Distance’, ‘Cornering’, ‘Overtaking’, ‘Making a Right-Hand Turn’, ‘Motorway Driving’ and ‘Using a Roundabout’. The RSA also plans to distribute over 300,000 reflective armbands in the coming week targeting vulnerable road users.
The following activity has been organised by local Road Safety Officers in counties nationwide to mark World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims’:
• Mayo County Council will be holding a mass at Knock Shrine on Sunday at 12:00pm on World Remembrance Day. PARC members will release 32 balloons as a mark of respect to those who have died in road crashes in counties across Ireland. They will also be distributing prayer cards for ‘protection on our roads’ at the event.
• PARC will also be organising a remembrance mass in the Augustinian Church, Shop Street, Drogheda for the families of victims of road crashes;
• In Carlow, prayers will be said at services in all churches in to remember those who have died in road crashes. A Local Authority road safety campaign with Bus Éireann will also take place in primary schools in the county over the next week;
• Road Safety Officers in Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Cavan have put together a radio advertisement, which will be broadcast locally to remember the victims of road crashes.
The RSA has pledged to support this nationwide day of remembrance each year where everyone who has been bereaved or whose loved one has been maimed can participate. In fact, this is a commitment identified in the Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012.
A Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims was first initiated by RoadPeace, the UK national charity for road victims (www.roadpeace.org). However, following the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly on 26th October 2005, the third Sunday in November of every year is now recognised as the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The UN Assembly was of the view that such a special day was the appropriate acknowledgement for victims of road traffic crashes and their families.
A total of 250 people have been killed on Irish roads to date this year, 35 fewer than last year. It is estimated that for every life lost on our roads over 100 people are left grieving this loss.
Garda Press Office,
14th November 2008
