Council wins RSA’s ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety Award’

The 2015 RSA Leading Light award in the Public Service Category has been awarded to the Donegal Road Safe Show.
“The ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ Awards Ceremony in Farmleigh House is one of the most important events of the year, as the Road Safety Authority acknowledges those who have helped achieve safer roads.
MC for the day was RTÉ News Western Reporter Teresa Mannion, fresh from her reporting on Storm Desmond. The RSA recognises the extraordinary efforts that people all over the country have made, and continue to make, to keep Ireland’s roads free of tragedy.
A total of 24 awards were presented by RSA Chairperson, Ms Liz O’Donnell. Hundreds of nominations were submitted to this year’s Awards which included individuals and groups from the business, media, education, emergency service and public sectors.
The Donegal Road Safe Show graphically depicts how a night out can end in death or serious injury when poor driving behavior is adopted. Short road safety videos and TV adverts are interspersed with accounts of crash scenes by a range of speakers including an A & E consultant, a Garda, a paramedic, a fire fighter, a victim of a road traffic collision and the mother of a fatally injured road traffic casualty all of whom give a first hand account of their personal experiences and emotions in the aftermath of a car crash.
The show emphasises that any one of the young people in the audience could themselves become a victim with the theme, ‘Remember, the next time it could be you’.
The show is organised by Donegal County Council and the Donegal Road Safety Working Group Road Safety and the show is a direct approach to improving road safety and reducing the devastating impact on communities and families in the county. The show is attended by over 2,500 students annually and School Principals continue to tell us that they believe that this is one of the most important initiatives each year for them to educate their students for the life ahead of them.
Brian O’Donnell, Road Safety Officer said, “This project would not be deliverable without the assistance of the emergency services and is an example of excellent interagency cooperation in the delivery of road safety education. Donegal County Council particularly acknowledges the role of An Garda Síochána, HSE Ambulance Service, HSE Emergency Department and the Fire Service in the delivery of the Road Safe Road Show. The Leading Lights Award acknowledges the commitment given by the participants to the show, who every year have heightened awareness to young people around road safety, thus reducing the potential for collisions and prepare our young people for the life ahead. To receive a national award for the show is a wonderful achievement and just knowing that everyone involved with the show have helped students in their educational journey is also a truly great reward. We are also very fortunate to know that all the participants involved have delivered a very genuine road safety message to a very appreciative audience.