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THIS SUNDAY WILL see a day of remembrance being held for road collision victims across Ireland.
There are, sadly, 20 more families grieving this year than the same period last year as already 165 people have died due to incidents on our roads.
In total, 23,405 people have died on Irish roads to date, since records began in 1959, while a further 76,129 received serious, life-changing injuries over the period 1977 to 2012.
Mark of respect
To mark the remembrance day, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), local authorities, members of An Garda Síochána and the emergency services are joining forces to urge people to consider their behaviour on the roads as a mark of respect to those who have lost their lives.
A number of events will take place throughout the country to remember those who have died or been seriously injured on the roads, as well as their families and friends.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said:
Behind every tragedy lies a traumatised family and a shattered community. This Sunday gives everyone an opportunity to remember those who have been killed or injured on our roads, as well as the people left behind.
Gay Byrne, Chairman, Road Safety Authority said: “We can sometimes read reports of people dying or being injured on our roads and feel detached from them, a sense of ‘it will never happen to me’. But for thousands of families around the country, it has happened to them and now their lives are forever changed as a result.”
He added: “We can save lives on our roads, and we can make our roads as safe as the safest roads in the world, but we can’t do it unless we all work together and take responsibility for our behaviour on the roads.”
Assistant Commissioner John Twomey, An Garda Síochána, said that the gardaí are committed to continuing to make every effort to reduce deaths and injuries the roads. However, he said that if they have learned anything from the past few years, “it’s that we can’t let complacency seep into our behaviour on the roads”.
Activities around the country include:
The RSA also has a ‘Wall of Remembrance’ on its Facebook page for people to share their memories and leave a memorial message for a person who has been killed or seriously injured on our roads.
A full list of the events taking place to mark ‘World Remembrance Day’ is available on www.rsa.ie.
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Guys, this is about road death, please!
No
I see all your comments were removed Joe. Playing a blinder there son. Now off with you down to the pub with the daily star under your chicken wing. ha ha ha!
I wud thought it was mostly young lads who drive too fast city and country ones …sadly enough some think they are invincible …
Funny enough Maggie the people that I have the most problem is the clowns that come on here thinking they know about road craft & driving. I have no issue with learner drivers or young drivers as such. Remember 90% of the drivers on the road are novices which may include you. Unless you’re getting paid for your driving as a professional you should consider your a novice because the last training you did was your driving test. Your driving test is an entry level exam. We all including myself should be prepared to look at our own driving. Everyday I learn new ways to drive better & try not to point fingers @ L drivers or young drivers as that group I find are not the greatest threat on the road.
Did I mention learner drivers???? I’m simply pointing out that most of the road deaths are males in their 20s unfortunately .i never claimed to be an expert driver or anything of the sort . Speeding kills ok.
Did you ever consider that maybe the largest group on the roads are the young drivers that are being killed. Speeding kills is an old cliche that is wearing out on me. Lots of things kill. In my view the biggest killer is peoples lack of awareness. If you don’t understand what’s going on then an accident is in the making.
Ok so I, going to cause an accident now am I ? S it’s 60yr old ladies boy racing up and down da road I spose,
Maybe Maggie maybe. I know whenever I get in any vehicle I consider being in an accident & I consider that I may even prevent one or cause it. I’m a sentient being & we are well know for making mistakes or poor judgment calls.
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