24,103 people killed and 79,761 seriously injured on Irish roads since recording began
This Sunday, 19 November marks ‘World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims’ when commemorations take place globally to remember those injured or killed in road traffic collisions.
A special memorial mass to remember those who have died or were seriously injured on our roads will be held in St. Patrick's Church, Ballyshannon. at 6.15 pm on Saturday 18th November. A candle will be lit and brought to the Altar for each victim. Anyone who would like to have a candle lit for a relative or friend should give their name to any of the priests or to the Parish Office 071 98 51295.
24,103 people have died since the recording of fatalities began in 1959 and 79,761 people have been seriously injured on Irish roads since the recording of serious injuries began in 1977 (up to 16 November 2017). To date in 2017 a total of 133 families, friends and communities have lost a loved one.
World Day of Remembrance provides an opportunity to draw the public’s attention to the impact of road crashes and the human cost involved. The day is a reminder of the effect on the family of a person killed or injured on our roads, as well as on the emergency services who face the consequences of crashes on a daily basis.
Events are being held around the country to mark the day and remember those who have died on our roads. A full list of these events is available on the RSA website.
Mr. Shane Ross T.D., Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, said, “World Day of Remembrance comes at a time when our campaign against road deaths is showing modest sign of success. Yet there is no room for complacency, we need to continue to focus our efforts on reducing fatalities and serious injuries, working with everyone responsible for the implementation of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy. I want to recognise the bravery of the advocacy and victims groups who have led the fight for road safety. It has been an honour to work alongside in our joint pursuit of this goal.”
Moyagh Murdock, CEO of the Road Safety Authority said, “This is the 11th year that we have commemorated World Day of Remembrance in Ireland. It is a day of reflection for all of those impacted by road traffic collisions. It gives us an opportunity to remember those who have died on our roads, lives cut short too soon. It is also an opportunity to remember those who have been seriously injured on our roads, who are left dealing with often very traumatic physical difficulties, whose lives have been permanently altered. And behind every life lost or serious injury, there are families, friends and communities who have been left devastated. We hear often about the numbers killed or hurt on our roads, but these people are more than statistics, they are fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, they are friends, colleagues and part of our communities. And we cannot forget that.”
Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy, National Roads Policing Unit, An Garda Síochána, said, “World Day of Remembrance is a time when each one of us can look at our own behaviour on the roads and how that impacts on the safety of other road users. While we are remembering those lost, we can make a positive commitment to ensuring that other families don’t suffer the same grief by thinking each and every day about road safety. Wearing a seat-belt, putting mobile phones away while driving, ensuring we can be seen when out walking or cycling, are all things we should be doing each and every day.”
World Day of Remembrance was first held in 1993 in the United Kingdom and organised since then by non-governmental organizations in a number of countries.
The RSA have a Facebook event page for World Day of Remembrance Day where people are invited to come and leave tributes and memorial messages for their loved ones who have died or who were injured on our roads.
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