Latest news with #road safety
Irish Times
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Irish Times
‘You're told things you don't want to hear. All parents think their children are angels'
Generations have been traumatised by Ireland's graphic road safety ads – yet the deaths continue, with 93 lives claimed by car accidents in 2025 so far. Obviously, something needs to change – and RTÉ must be commended for its unflinching documentary, Impact – Anatomy of a Crash (RTÉ One, 9.35pm), which revisits a 2016 accident outside Dungarvan and the 'physical, emotional, and psychological scars' it has left. It's a difficult but necessary viewing. Mary Bermingham and her partner, Gary Fenton, recall setting out from Cork City to Waterford for a Christmas festival in December 2016 along with Mary's four children. They were approaching Dungarvan when their Citroen people carrier was hit head-on by a Volkswagen Golf, the driver of which was later found to have cocaine and alcohol in his system. Mary, Gary, and their family were lucky to survive. In the immediate aftermath of the collision, Mary remembers seeing Gary crumpled and unmoving, his life seeping out of him. 'He was unconscious, slumped on the wheel. The wheel was folded in half. He was foaming at the mouth. When I called him he didn't move.'. In the back seat, her children were screaming. 'I didn't feel anything. It was like my body was numb. I just tried to calm my brother down,' recalls Mary's daughter Chloe. 'My sister was screaming, saying she couldn't see. After that, I went unconscious.' READ MORE As emergency services rushed to the scene, the Golf caught fire. All three occupants are believed to have died instantly. To their credit, the parents of the back seat passenger, Michael Tobin, agree to be interviewed – and remain appalled by the coroner's finding that their son had traces of cocaine in their system. 'It was devastating to be quite honest,' says his mother. 'You're told things you don't want to hear. All parents think their children are angels.' Anatomy of a Crash is a gruelling way to start the week, and some viewers may be tempted to switch over. It also pulls off a trick increasingly popular among documentaries of keeping us in suspense about the fate of one of the protagonists. Here, it is Gary who is spoken of as if he has died – only for it to be revealed halfway through that he survived, though only just (and is lucky not to be paralysed). He was left with life-altering injuries, as was Chloe, who cannot stand up for more than 40 minutes without being overcome with crippling back pain. 'Everybody hears about the people that died,' says Gary. 'They don't hear about the people that survived. Every one of us has massive injuries and we're still living with it.' The big caveat about this sort of film is that the people who need to watch it – boy racers who load up on drugs and booze before getting behind a wheel – are the last ones who will take on board its message. Still, the rest of us will find it chilling, especially in light of how much time people are required to spend in their cars nowadays because of increasingly lengthy commutes. 'You don't wake up and think oh it could happen to me,' says Chloe in an unsettling coda. 'But it did happen to us.' It is a bleak conclusion to a documentary that refuses to pull its punches or condescend to the audience by tacking on an unearned happy ending.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
73 screens in Abu Dhabi urge motorists to pay traffic fines early, get 35% discount
As part of ongoing efforts to enhance road safety and make life easier for drivers, Abu Dhabi Police has launched a new initiative called 'act now and benefit'. This campaign brings valuable information directly to motorists through visual displays on 73 Adnoc petrol station screens across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and the Al Dhafra region and has been rolled out in collaboration with Adnoc Distribution and Pixus, Pay fines early, save money For drivers, the biggest advantage of the campaign is the opportunity to save money. If motorists pay traffic fines within 60 days, they receive a 35 per cent discount. Even if they miss that window, they can still benefit from a 25 per cent discount if they settle the fine within one year of the violation date. These discounts apply to most violations, excluding only those classified as dangerous. This gives motorists a clear incentive to act early, avoid accumulating penalties, and manage their legal obligations in a flexible, budget-friendly way. Easy, flexible payment options Abu Dhabi Police has also made paying fines easier. Through digital platforms, debit options, and even instalment plans, drivers now have access to smart and convenient payment channels that work around their schedules. This not only reduces the stress of handling fines but also supports a smoother, more efficient system for everyone. Technology used in the campaign The awareness campaign uses modern, on-the-ground media to reach drivers directly. By broadcasting the message on Adnoc station screens, places motorists already visit, the police ensure that more people learn about the initiative and take advantage of the benefits it offers. The initiative also encourages responsible driving. By making it easier and more affordable to clear fines, it motivates drivers to stay on the right side of the law, contributing to fewer repeat offenses and safer roads for all. Colonel Mahmoud Youssef Al Balushi of the Abu Dhabi Police emphasised that the campaign is part of a broader mission to raise public satisfaction by offering efficient, accessible services that lighten the financial burden on drivers. Similarly, Colonel Dr Eng Muslim Mohamed Al Janibi noted that the campaign is about educating the public, not just about the discounts, but also about the multiple ways they can settle fines quickly and easily.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Automotive
- BreakingNews.ie
'It's a vile thing to do': Public urged not to share footage of car crashes
A road safety group is appealing to people not to share videos or photos of car crashes. So far this year, 93 people have died on the roads. Advertisement Gardaí regularly ask members of the public not to circulate images from incidents where people have died or have been seriously injured. Vice-president of the Irish Road Victims Association, Leo Lieghio, said people should think of others. "The first thing people do is pull out their phone and film it and then start sharing it on Facebook and not thinking. "Not thinking about the people that are in the crash. It's a vile thing to be doing to be honest." Out of the 93 road deaths that have occurred so far this year, 35 were drivers, 23 were pedestrians, and 17 were motorcyclists. 93 deaths is a decrease of 12 compared to the same time last year, while total collisions have also dropped from 96 to 88.
CBC
2 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Amid rising injury rates, advocates call for e-scooter regulations in Manitoba
It's becoming a popular way to get around, but with the increase of electric scooters on the road, hospitalizations because of them are increasing and some are blaming the lack of rules around their use.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Speed cameras set up on A75 between Creetown and Newton Stewart
Work has started to install temporary average speed cameras on a major route through south west are being fitted on the A75 between Newton Stewart and Creetown and should be operational by the middle of cameras have previously been used along the A836 and said the remote and exposed nature of the road would allow new camera technology to be tested in "extreme and inclement" weather conditions. Police Scotland already has numerous locations along the road between Gretna and Stranraer where it uses mobile detection temporary average speed cameras operate by making use of renewable energy using a combination of solar and bio-methanol sources. They will be powered by off-grid sources which enables the technology to be used at locations which previously had been too isolated for fixed said the use of the temporary average speed cameras would allow mobile units to be used in other locations. It is expected the cameras should be up and running by the middle of Bowater, area manager for the west safety camera unit, said: "Temporary average speed cameras have proven to be an effective tool in improving road safety across Scotland."Their deployment on routes such as the A82 and the A836 has led to notable reduction in dangerous driving and injury collisions."These systems are a vital part of our strategy to address speeding and protect all road users - especially in areas where permanent infrastructure may not be in place."
