A day of remembrance will take place in Westmeath this Sunday in memory of those who have died on the county’s roads.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA ), Westmeath County Council, An Garda Síochána, the emergency services, and PARC Road Safety Group are asking people in Westmeath to remember the victims of road collisions on World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims this Sunday November 20.
To remember those who have lost their lives on Irish roads, prayers will be said at all Masses in Westmeath on World Remembrance Day. There will also be an adoration altar in Mullingar Cathedral to mark the lives that have been lost on Westmeath roads.
Some 161 people have lost their lives on Irish roads so far this year, a reduction of 35 on the same period last year. World Remembrance Day is a time for friends and family to remember their loved ones who have been killed or seriously injured on our roads and for other road-users to consider how their behaviour impacts others.
Senior engineer with Westmeath County Council, Michael Connolly, said: “Thousands of people around Ireland have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one who died on our roads. Many more are learning to support and care for those who received serious injuries as a result of a collision. I would urge you to think about these people on World Remembrance Day and also think about what you can do to keep our roads free of tragedy.”
Chairman of the Road Safety Authority, Gay Byrne, said: “World Remembrance Day is a time for us to remember those who have died on our roads, the families, friends, and communities who are living with their tragic loss, and those people who continue to require support and care for serious injuries. So on World Remembrance Day, please take a moment to think about your behaviour on the roads and the changes we all can make to keep our roads free from carnage. Because all it takes is a split second for lives to be changed forever.”
The Road Safety Authority will also have a wall of remembrance at https://apps.facebook.com/191240797620479/ where people who have lost loved ones in road collisions can post a message in their memory.
