National road safety campaign named after Offaly woman

A national Road Safety campaign has been named after a famous woman from Ferbane.

Mary Ward is often mentioned as being the first road traffic fatality on record. She fell to her death from a slow-moving steam-driven vehicle on Oxmantown Mall, Birr in August 1869.

This week The Road Safety Authority (RSA) said they have just launched the “Who was Mary Ward? Vision Zero” campaign.
This is a very important campaign which is calling on the public to work together “so we see our last road death in Ireland.”
The Road Safety Authority is appealing to people to change their driving behaviour, to make Irish roads safer for all. Vision Zero, they say, is aiming for no road deaths or serious injuries on Irish roads by 2050.

They are appealing to all road users – drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians – to make a behavioural change in order to prevent further tragedy.

They are encouraging people to spread the word with friends, family members and colleagues about Vision Zero.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers, T.D. pointed out that “Vision Zero requires the collaboration of government agencies, law enforcement, and road users themselves. While the Vision Zero target is ambitious, it is achievable. Between 2006 and 2018 we cut road deaths by almost two-thirds. After many successful years, there has been an alarming increase in fatalities in more recent times.

@Every single death is a tragedy for the victims’ families, friends and communities. Our ambition now is to reduce road deaths by 50% by 2030. The ‘Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030’ outlines a comprehensive plan and framework to enhance road safety over the next number of years. The Government is committed to working with our colleagues in the RSA, the Gardaí and other stakeholders to deliver reform of the penalty points system, implement the speed limit review and deliver public information campaigns, among a range of other policy and enforcement measures, to work towards a future with no deaths on Irish roads.”

Sam Waide, CEO, RSA said: “Road safety requires a collective effort towards a future where every road journey ends safely. Unfortunately, since the world’s first recorded road death in Co. Offaly in 1869, there have been thousands of other lives lost tragically on Irish roads. Our ‘Who was Mary Ward’ campaign asks the public to join this concerted effort in achieving Vision Zero - the ambition that no one will lose their life on Irish roads by 2050. If every member of the public today committed to making one positive change in their driving behaviour, it will make our roads a safer place and help us in achieving this vision.”

Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson of the RSA added: “Since the first road death was recorded in Birr, Co. Offaly, thousands of families have grieved the loss of a loved one on Irish roads. Many others have been left with life-changing injuries as a result of a road traffic collision. Through this campaign, the families of road safety victims have bravely come forward to impart the human impact and permanence of such tragedies and have kindly granted permission for their loved one’s names to appear in the campaign. I am asking all road users to think about one thing they could do to prevent further tragedy, so no more families are left needlessly grieving a life lost on Irish roads. Whether it’s having a conversation with family or friends about road safety, reducing speed or avoiding distractions while driving, your efforts could save a life.”

As of 11 September 2023, a total of 130 people have died on Irish roads, 25 more than the same period in 2022.