Personal crash stories leave lasting impression

THERE were emotional scenes at the launch of a road safety advertising campaign in Dublin yesterday as the families of people killed in road accidents recounted their personal tragedies.

Road Safety Authority chairman Gay Byrne hugged the people featured in the ads as they fought back tears while watching the hard-hitting TV commercials.

Four ads, which began screening on TV last night, feature true-life accounts of road accidents as told by bereaved families coupled with photographs and video footage of the victims. Three of the ads contain moving accounts of the devastation felt by families at the loss of a loved one due to a car crash.

Catherine Hastings from Summerhill, Co Meath, whose daughter, Emma, 17, died in February 2002 describes how her face was so badly smashed that she had to have a closed coffin.

“If Emma could speak now, she’d say ‘be careful who you take a lift from and don’t go unbelted’,” said Ms Hastings.

Betty Cawley from Blanchardstown recounts how her daughter Errin, 22, was killed in an accident on the M50 in Dublin in 2004. “That day she insisted we all put on seatbelts. That’s why three of us who were also in the car are still alive and not wiped out by dangerous driving,” said Ms Cawley.

Charlie Mitchell warned other motorists about the danger of driving when tired as his late brother, Fran, 27, is believed to have crashed after falling asleep while driving near his home in Greystones, Co Wicklow, in July 2005.

The fourth ad contains the testimony of Micilín Feeney from Lettermullen, Co Galway, who was left with permanent brain damage after being involved in a drink-driving accident in 2004. The former bricklayer describes how he lost his job and fiancée as a result of the accident, which left him in a coma for two months.

“It really gets to me when I hear about a car crash and young people dead. I feel guilty for I did something very stupid and I got the chance to live,” said Micilín.

“It’s very ironic. Drink driving did this to me and now I look like I’m drunk all the time.”

Launching the ads, Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said the Crashed Lives campaign would send a powerful message about the devastating consequences of road accidents.

Road Safety Authority chief executive Noel Brett said the four families who had participated in the ads had demonstrated “a great example of courage and heroism”.

“They have turned a very painful and personal experience into something positive,” he said.

Mr Brett said the fact that 15 people had already died on the roads in December was a reminder that nobody should become complacent.

“We are making good sustained progress, but we can still do so much more.”