Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority launched their annual Christmas and New Year campaign called ‘Crashed Lives‘ today. This year’s campaign, launched in Dublin today by President Mary McAleese, focuses on those who have been seriously injured on our roads, and all families who have suffered as a consequences of road collisions.
‘Crashed Lives‘ is a road safety campaign featuring true life case studies in which people speak about the consequences of a crash or about the loss of loved ones in road collisions and how it has changed their lives forever, robbing everyone of their dreams.
Shockingly, a total of 22,882 people have lost their lives on Irish roads since records began in 1959 and a total of 66,773 people have suffered serious life-changing injuries due to road accidents since serious injures were first recorded in 1979. The Tipperary Garda Division which covers county Tipperary north and south experienced 13 road deaths in 2009. Over the holiday season a series of television adverts will be aired, which will feature true life accounts of recent serious road tragedies.
President McAleese stated at the launch: “There is no corner of this island that has not been affected by road deaths and injury. Since I spoke here last year, 227 people lost their lives on our roads. Every single one of them could be and should be alive today. They should be with their families looking forward to Christmas. Instead, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, friends and colleagues are carrying a grief that just goes on and on. We are all gathered here, because we hope that this Christmas road safety campaign will save lives.”
She also reminded, those assembled, of the dangers faced when using the roads at this time of the year and asked everyone to remember those who have been affected by road tragedy, especially those who have been killed, the injured survivors and their family members.
The Chairman of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Gay Byrne, stated that the campaign was about the forgotten victims of road collisions. The veteran broadcaster said: “For every death on EU roads, there are serious injuries, ranging from severe brain damage, life long disablement and spinal cord injuries and simply put, for these people and their families, life will never be the same. Our message to every household today is simple – don’t take life for granted. Stay safe on the roads and make sure you get home safely this Christmas.”
To view full statistics regarding our countries driving behaviour click here.
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