By Adrianna Wrona
Copyright independent
An annual road safety awareness initiative is designed to highlight the devastating impact of collisions on Irish roads, with the aim of having one day a year that is completely free from road fatalities.
The “Project EDWARD Day”, backed by the Government, emergency services, road safety organisations and Irish businesses, advocates for all road users to pause and think about the risks they face or may pose to others, as well as how they can reduce these risks.
The campaign, which has grown year on year since its establishment in 2016, promotes an evidence-led “Safe Systems” approach, intending to have a road traffic system free from death and serious life-changing injuries.
The East Coast local authorities, which include road authorities in South Dublin, Wicklow, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and Dublin County Councils, are now asking all Irish motorists to support this road safety initiative.
They call on road users to remind their family, friends and colleagues to take extra care on the road, as well as drive as safely as they can.
Motorists are urged to follow the rules of the road when behind the wheel, or riding a bike, motorbike or e-scooter, and to watch out for vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, e-cooter users, the elderly, young children and horse riders.
They are advised to drive at a safe, legal speed, always wear a seatbelt and ensure other occupants wear them, and refrain from distracted driving or driving under the influence.
Deputy mayor of South Dublin County Council (SDCC), Trevor Gilligan, said the project continues to raise the profile of road safety in the area.
“It is imperative that road safety remains high on everyone’s mind, especially now as we are approaching the winter months and darker evenings,” he said.
Meanwhile, the road safety engineer at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Gerry Flaherty, said there are around 20,000 road fatalities in Europe each year.
“Although fatal collision numbers are reducing, there are still 50 road fatalities each day on European roads. Every death is one too many,” he said.
Larry Bergin, the road safety officer at Fingal County Council, added that gardaí will be conducting additional traffic checks aimed at promoting safer driving.
