Families attend event to remember loved ones who died on Irish roads
The event was organised by the Irish Road Victims Association in partnership with the Road Safety Authority.
A large crowd has attended an island-wide commemoration event, to remember the people who lost their lives on roads across Ireland.
Families, communities and organisations marked World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, remembering the lives lost and acknowledging the devastating impact of road traffic collisions.
The event was organised by the Irish Road Victims Association (Irva), in partnership with the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
The event is observed annually on the third Sunday of November.
The Irva hosted the national commemoration at the Bloomfield House Hotel in Mullingar.
Some 25,508 people have died on Irish roads since records began in 1959, according to the RSA.
Donna Price, president of Irva, said: “Behind every statistic is a person whose life mattered, a family whose world has been changed forever, and a community that continues to feel their loss.
“For the families we represent, remembrance is not confined to one day of the year. The pain of losing a loved one never goes away.
“Today, we come together to remember the more than 25,508 people who have lost their lives on Irish roads since records began, to support those who are living with grief and life-changing injuries, and to acknowledge the wonderful work of our emergency services.
“We stand together in solidarity with all of those impacted, to ensure that the people behind these statistics are never forgotten, and that their families receive the support they deserve as they try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
“But most importantly, to ensure lessons are learnt from these preventable deaths so that other families may be spared.”
Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney, said: “We must listen with care and respect when victims, survivors and bereaved families choose to share their experiences.
“Those experiences deserve to be heard in their own right, not only for what they can teach us about road safety.”
“As we remember those who have died and those injured in collisions, we commit to redoubling our effort to reducing road deaths and making our roads safer for everyone.”
Sam Waide, chief executive of the Road Safety Authority, said: “The voices of bereaved families and survivors shape our work. They are the reason we keep pressing for safer roads.”