Campaign to increase Road Safety – Joint effort between the Church, Mayo Co. Council and Mayo Undertakers.
Over the next few weeks, hundreds of high visibility vests will be distributed in Co. Mayo to over 100 churches by Mayo County Council as part of a road safety campaign. The Hi visibility vests, detailing a road safety message for drivers, will be available from churches throughout Mayo for funeral undertakers to loan to volunteers who marshal traffic at funerals on often dark and remote Country roads.
Noel Gibbons road safety officer said, “With clocks going back an hour in a few weeks, we felt it was an opportune time to begin a road safety campaign. As evenings become darker people should remember the importance of being clearly visible to drivers.
“Despite the falling number of road deaths in recent years, there are still too many people loosing their lives on Irish roads. We need to take every precaution to protect ourselves. Concentration by all road users, drivers and pedestrians, can prevent these deaths.
“Visibility can be hampered during the winter months therefore it is important that we take responsible measures. Pedestrians can take a simple first step by wearing a high visibility vest. They may not be fashionable, but they do save lives.
Garda Inspector Joe Doherty said “More than two-thirds of fatal pedestrian collisions happen at night. Although you can hear a car coming and see its lights, the driver may not see you. In the course of the next few weeks there will be high visibility vests distributed free of charge to prevent the loss of life or injury on our roads. We would urge people to make use of them they may save your life.
Michael-kilcoyne funeral undertaker “I would like to commend the Mayo County Council for coming up with this idea and to thank them for giving of their time in seeing it through, this is a constant concern we have when we are having funeral removals in the Countryside, safety is paramount,’’
Tuam archdiocese spokesperson Fr Fintan Monaghan said the church was “fully behind the campaign. We all need to play our part to make our roads safer.”
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Michael-kilcoyne Home phone: 094 9025105 Mobile phone: 087 2648869 Fax No: 094 9027930
Fr Fintan Monaghan 093-24166 archdiocesetuam@gmail.com.
Noel Gibbons 0877870055
