This Sunday is the annual ‘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 mark the event will take place in the Augustinian Church, Shop Street, Drogheda, at 1:15pm and all are welcome to attend.
In 2006 Drogheda became the first town in the country to hold such a memorial mass. It was started by local man Michael O’Neill whose daughter Fiona aged just 21 died alongside her boyfriend, Collon man Dominic Wogan aged 23, in a road accident just yards from her home at Tullyesker.
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 that face the consequences of crashes on a daily basis.
“Unfortunately there have been eight fatalities to date in 2022 in County Louth” said Adrian O’Sullivan, Road Safety Officer with Louth County Council.
Four of the deceased were motorcyclists, two pedestrians, one cyclist and one vehicle passenger.
As at 15th November 2022, a total of 135 families, friends and communities have lost a loved one in Ireland, which is an increase of 19 compared to the same period in 2021.
“These figures don’t include the countless numbers left with life changing injuries over the same period which never make the news” Mr. O’Sullivan said.
“We all know someone whose lives have been deeply affected by the loss of a friend, colleague, neighbour or member of the community. The effect on our emergency services, who deal with the consequences of crashes on a daily basis, is profound” he added.
“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.”
“For those unable to attend the memorial service in Drogheda, I would ask if you have a spare moment to pause and remember those who have died or who have suffered life changing injuries as the result of a road traffic accident on this year’s World Day of Remembrance”, concluded the Road Safety Officer.
