Remembering road collision victims

On Sunday, November 16, the victims of road collisions internationally will be remembered on World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

To mark the day, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Mayo County Council, members of An Garda Síochána and the emergency services are joining forces to urge people to consider their driving behaviour as a mark of respect to those who have lost their lives on Ireland’s roads.

Records from 1959 (when they began) up to November 5 this year show that 23,592 people have died on Irish roads to date. A further 76,586 received serious, life-changing injuries over the period 1977 to 2013. Since 1997, 191 people have been killed on Mayo roads. Already this year, 162 families, friends and communities around Ireland have lost a loved one.

Masses, services and commemoration events will also take place around the country next weekend to the lives that have been lost on our roads. A service will take place in Castlebar Church at 12 noon on November 16 and will be attended by members of the emergency services. A full list of the events taking place to mark World Day of Remembrance is available on www.rsa.ie.

In addition, the RSA will have a wall of remembrance on its Facebook page - www.facebook.com/RSAireland. The wall of remembrance is a place for people to come and share their memories, to light a candle and leave a memorial message for a loved one killed or seriously injured on our roads. Since it was set up three years ago, over 1,500 people have posted messages in memory of their loved ones.

Moyagh Murdock, chief executive, Road Safety Authority, said: 'On World Day of Remembrance we remember not only the people who have died on our roads but consider the other preventable tragedies that will happen before the end of the year.

'Take a moment to think about the changes we all can make to keep our roads free from carnage, and to make sure that fewer families are grieving for their loved ones this Christmas.'