Hard-hitting message is delivered to students

AN event took place last week which delivered a hard-hitting road safety message to approximately 700 Transition Year students from Fingal.

The AXA Roadsafe Roadshow, in partnership with Fingal County Council, is aimed primarily at Transition Year students and based on an award-winning format.

It depicts graphically how a night out can end in tragedy. 

Using a backdrop of contemporary music, video clips and television advertisements, the story was told by Garda David Barron, Paramedic Tony Kelly and Fire Officer Darren O’Connor. 

The show culminated in a presentation by a local father, Leo Lieghio, who lost his daughter Marsia, 12 years ago in a hit and run in Clondalkin. 

Marsia was 16-years-old at the time and was knocked down at a set of pedestrian lights. 

Mr Lieghio told the students in attendance about the raw grief he and his family have had to suffer since that terrible day. 

Antoinette McDonald, Direct, Partner and Customer Experience Director at AXA Insurance, said that as one of the largest insurance companies in Ireland, they deal with hundreds of claims every week as a result of traffic collisions. 

“The effects are well documented – too many people are being killed on our roads or are being injured for life,” said Ms McDonald. 

“These are real life stories of people who deal with the needless carnage caused by speed, drink and drugs on Irish roads and the show brings home the pain caused by unnecessary road crashes and the impact on people and how it has changed their lives forever.” 

Ms McDonald added: “The way they are presented will help young novice drivers and other young road users understand why, for everyone's sake, it is better to be alive and late, rather than dead on time.”

In 2017, 159 people lost their lives on our roads and 695 were left seriously injured.