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12/01/2012
New Road Safety Campaign Launched
A new driver safety campaign, which features real life accounts of road tragedy, is set to
be launched today.
Environment Minister Alex Attwood will launch four new advertisements each of which has a victim of a road accident describing what happened and the consequences.
Melvyn and Melissa, will each recount how they sustained their injuries, and the lasting impact this will have on their lives. Poignantly Melissa will reveal that the one time she didn’t wear her seatbelt in the backseat has left her a paraplegic for life. Everyone else wearing seatbelts walked from the car.
Melissa said: "The worst day of my life was when I was told – Melissa, you’ll never walk again."
Meanwhile Melvyn crashed his car when he had been drinking, speeding and not wearing his seatbelt. He has been left with a serious brain injury which has changed both his life and his mother’s forever. His mother says: "People need to understand it’s not just their life that crashes."
In the other advertisements the stories of 'Martin' and 'Shannan' will be told by their devastated parents.
Shannan McCracken was the only person in her car when she crashed in Ballymoney. She was a month short of her 18th birthday and had passed her driving test just six months earlier.
Shannan McCracken’s parents, Paul and Diane, tell of their devastation when their daughter crashed.
"When Shannan died part of us died with her…you never think that this is going to happen to you. Young people need to know that they are not invincible. It can happen to them. You need to be ready for the unexpected."
Martin Gallagher was 25 when he was killed in a hit and run as he walked home from celebrating Halloween. The driver was drunk, speeding and had drugs in his system. Martin’s parents are bereft and have to live with the consequences of the driver’s actions for the rest of their lives. Martin’s mother says: "There’s nobody to tell you how to cope when you lose a son. You’re just broke inside – torn apart."
Mr Attwood said: "Brave individuals and families have chosen to tell their heartbreaking story in the hope that they can prevent other people suffering in the same way. I am enormously grateful that they have told of their experience – I hope it is widely heard.
"They are ordinary people, like you and me. Their emotion is raw and very real. They each tell how their lives have been altered, in various tragic circumstances, and how road collisions have changed their lives forever.
"The over-whelming consequences of road collisions have far-reaching effects on family, relatives, friends, work colleagues and whole communities."
Mr Attwood urged young drivers especially to heed these messages, he said: "These stories are the stories behind the headlines. They don’t want other families to suffer tragically changed lives after losing a loved one on our roads - nor others to endure such life-changing injuries."
The "Crashed Lives' television adverts will initially run from 12 January to end of February 2012.
(LB)
be launched today.
Environment Minister Alex Attwood will launch four new advertisements each of which has a victim of a road accident describing what happened and the consequences.
Melvyn and Melissa, will each recount how they sustained their injuries, and the lasting impact this will have on their lives. Poignantly Melissa will reveal that the one time she didn’t wear her seatbelt in the backseat has left her a paraplegic for life. Everyone else wearing seatbelts walked from the car.
Melissa said: "The worst day of my life was when I was told – Melissa, you’ll never walk again."
Meanwhile Melvyn crashed his car when he had been drinking, speeding and not wearing his seatbelt. He has been left with a serious brain injury which has changed both his life and his mother’s forever. His mother says: "People need to understand it’s not just their life that crashes."
In the other advertisements the stories of 'Martin' and 'Shannan' will be told by their devastated parents.
Shannan McCracken was the only person in her car when she crashed in Ballymoney. She was a month short of her 18th birthday and had passed her driving test just six months earlier.
Shannan McCracken’s parents, Paul and Diane, tell of their devastation when their daughter crashed.
"When Shannan died part of us died with her…you never think that this is going to happen to you. Young people need to know that they are not invincible. It can happen to them. You need to be ready for the unexpected."
Martin Gallagher was 25 when he was killed in a hit and run as he walked home from celebrating Halloween. The driver was drunk, speeding and had drugs in his system. Martin’s parents are bereft and have to live with the consequences of the driver’s actions for the rest of their lives. Martin’s mother says: "There’s nobody to tell you how to cope when you lose a son. You’re just broke inside – torn apart."
Mr Attwood said: "Brave individuals and families have chosen to tell their heartbreaking story in the hope that they can prevent other people suffering in the same way. I am enormously grateful that they have told of their experience – I hope it is widely heard.
"They are ordinary people, like you and me. Their emotion is raw and very real. They each tell how their lives have been altered, in various tragic circumstances, and how road collisions have changed their lives forever.
"The over-whelming consequences of road collisions have far-reaching effects on family, relatives, friends, work colleagues and whole communities."
Mr Attwood urged young drivers especially to heed these messages, he said: "These stories are the stories behind the headlines. They don’t want other families to suffer tragically changed lives after losing a loved one on our roads - nor others to endure such life-changing injuries."
The "Crashed Lives' television adverts will initially run from 12 January to end of February 2012.
(LB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A chilly start with a widespread frost and some freezing fog, any freezing fog slow to clear. Otherwise bright with sunny spells and coastal showers. Light winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Coastal showers dying out with a widespread frost developing along with freezing fog, which could become extensive. Winds remaining light. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
