Date: 08 Oct 2025
AXA Roadsafe Roadshow in partnership with Donegal County Council launches in Donegal
In 2024, 17 people lost their lives on roads in Co. Donegal, a further 55 sustained serious injury.
So far this year, 10 people have lost their lives on roads in Co. Donegal, 28 people have sustained serious injury.
2,700 students from every Secondary School in Co. Donegal attended the AXA Roadsafe Roadshow in partnership with Donegal County Council over the past two days.
Young drivers are 85% more likely to be involved in road accidents than older drivers, with speed, distraction, and inexperience the leading causes of road traffic accidents. *According to An Garda Síochána, a total of 18,305 individuals have been issued fines to date for using mobile phones while driving, of which 184 were in County Donegal.
To address this major issue on our roads, AXA in partnership with Donegal County Council today launched the Roadsafe Roadshow in Donegal, bringing together 2,700 Transition Year (TY) students from every Secondary School in the County for a powerful and emotional road safety event at The Aura Venue in Letterkenny.
A Hard-Hitting Reality Check for Young Drivers
Now in its 17th year, the AXA Roadsafe Roadshow partners with Donegal County Council, An Garda Síochána and emergency services to deliver a raw, real-life depiction of the dangers on our roads. The event includes:
🚗 Reenactment of a night out ending in tragedy – showing the devastating impact of reckless driving.
🚨 First-hand accounts from emergency responders who deal with road fatalities.
🎤 Rachel Elliott, a survivor of a road traffic collision that tragically killed two of her friends in Bundoran in 2018. Six people were in the car that travelled at a speed of 120 kph before it hit a wall where five of them were thrown through the back window of the car on impact.
🎤 Bernadette Rice, who tragically lost her twin sister Clarice, in a road traffic collision in 2019.
The AXA Roadsafe Roadshow encourages the next generation of young road users to actively consider the importance of road safety and the impact that dangerous driving, speeding, substance use and distracted driving can have on themselves and others.
Speaking at the launch of the AXA Roadsafe Roadshow in Donegal, Mick Comerford, Retail Direct Director, AXA said, “For young Donegal drivers, getting behind the wheel of a car for the first time and learning to drive is an exciting milestone in their lives. However, with that additional independence comes responsibility to drive safely for yourself and for all road users. Our data shows that young drivers are significantly more likely to be involved in road accidents than older drivers. The AXA Roadsafe Roadshow aims to provide young people on the verge of learning to drive with an honest and unfiltered account of how dangerous driving can destroy lives.”
The Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, John G. McLaughlin said “This is an impactful and informative Roadshow and is an important opportunity to encourage young people to reflect on how they use our roads as drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Speeding, driving under the influence of drink and/or drugs, dangerous driving and distracted driving can have a devastating impact on both the driver and other road users. By engaging directly with the students, the Roadsafe Roadshow reinforces the importance of making safe, responsible choices. I extend my sincere thanks to the speakers whose contributions make this important event possible.”
The AXA Roadsafe Roadshow will visit locations in North Dublin and Kerry for the remainder of 2025, for more information, please see www.axa.ie
