Mayo Garda Reserve member receives road safety recognition award
WESTPORT resident Ciaran Collins has received a Special Recognition Award at the annual Road Safety Authority (RSA) Leading Lights Awards ceremony in Croke Park.
A volunteer member of An Garda Síochána Reserve, Ciaran received the award in recognition of a road safety video focused on distracted driving, created in collaboration with An Garda Síochána.
Over several years, Ciaran has produced numerous road safety awareness videos alongside Garda Tony McCabe, with all content developed and delivered entirely on a voluntary basis.
Speaking after receiving the award, Ciaran said it was a great honour to be recognised for the work, which aims to encourage safer behaviour on Irish roads and prevent serious injury and loss of life.
The award-winning video, along with other road safety content, can be viewed on the An Garda Síochána Mayo Facebook page. The campaign uses powerful imagery and storytelling to drive home a simple but impactful message: while a mobile phone may open many doors, it can also open doors with devastating consequences.
The video shows the doors of an ambulance, a fire engine, and a family home, culminating in the image of a cell door closing on a driver responsible for a collision. The message is clear - one glance at your phone can change lives forever, for you, your family, and someone else’s family.
Ciaran explained that all the road safety videos he has produced - covering topics such as speeding, drink driving, and drug driving - follow a similar approach. The aim is to encourage drivers to pause and reflect on the real consequences of risky behaviour and to urge passengers to call out dangerous driving, potentially saving lives.
Ciaran has served as a member of the Garda Reserve in Westport for over 18 years and is also a member of the Westport Coast Guard Unit. The unit is preparing to open a new Coast Guard station in the coming weeks, representing a proactive and highly professional service that he is proud to be part of.
This recognition from the RSA underscores the importance of using creative, impactful messaging to promote road safety and protect all road users.