World's first road death was in Ireland — New campaign aims to see zero by 2050

The first person in the world to die in a road crash happened in Ireland. Mary Ward died after she fell under the wheels of the motor vehicle she was travelling in Birr, Co. Offaly on August 31, 1869. Picture: RSA.ie

The Road Safety Authority has launched an ambitious new campaign in the hopes of reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads to zero by the year 2050.

The “Who was Mary Ward? Vision Zero” campaign, named after the first person in the world to die in a road crash, encourages all road users — drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians — to make one change to prevent further tragedy on the roads.