THE Road Safety Authority (RSA) has offered its deepest sympathies to the family of road safety campaigner Gertie Shields who passed away on July 31.
In 1983, Gertie, from Balbriggan, lost her daughter Paula in a road traffic collision when a drunk driver struck the vehicle she was travelling in.
Following the tragedy, which also claimed the lives of five of Paula’s friends, Gertie tirelessly campaigned for legislative and social change in relation to drink driving.
In that time, she also set up an organisation called Mothers Against Drink Driving (MADD).
In 2013, the RSA presented Gertie with the Supreme Award at the 2013 Leading Lights in Road Safety Awards in recognition of her enormous contribution to road safety in Ireland.
Liz O’Donnell, chairperson of the Road Safety Authority, said it was with great sadness that the RSA learned of Gertie’s passing.
“Gertie was one of those most ardent and tenacious campaigners for road safety since the 1980s when she lost her 19-year-old daughter Paula in a road traffic collision caused by a drink driver,
? she said.
Ms O’Donnell said Gertie spoke out about drink driving when it wasn’t popular to do so.
“Much of the legislation in place today to prevent drink driving, and the sea change in public attitudes to this abhorrent behaviour, was made possible in part due to Gertie’s tireless work to ensure no other families endured the devastation caused by the loss of her daughter Paula,
? she said.
“When I spoke to my colleagues about Gertie, many words and phrases were used – compassionate, tenacious, ambassador for road safety, forgiving, dedicated. But one stands out from the rest and that is strength.
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Ms O’Donnell said that to suffer such a tragedy as Gertie did, and to be able to harness that grief so that others wouldn’t suffer the same tragedy, requires a strength of character beyond measure.
“She was a true champion of road safety and for that we will be forever grateful,
? she added.