AXA/Mayo Safety Roadshow hits home

Students hear shocking reality of dealing with road deaths


Roadshow attended by 1500 Mayo TYs

Castlebar
Ciara Galvin

Transition year students from 29 secondary schools across the county attended the AXA/Mayo Safety Roadshow at The Royal Theatre, Castlebar last week.
The 1,500 students learned about the reality and consequences of irresponsible driving and road traffic accidents. The graphic images and real stories conveyed by those who have attended car crashes, a mother who lost her son and a road traffic survivor culminated in a stark lesson that Noel Gibbons, Road Safety Officer with Mayo County Council, hopes young people who attended will not forget.
Opening the show, the first six rows of students were asked to stand up – representing 162 people who died on Irish roads last year.
First to speak was Garda Hugh McHugh of Castlebar Garda Station. Garda McHugh told his experience of having to attend the scene of a car crash and the protocol he must adhere to despite the tough issues he has to deal with, namely telling parents of the loss of their son or daughter.
“Standing there at the front door, about to ring the doorbell, I’m gathering myself. As the parents answer the door they already know what I’m going to say. Parents want to wake up and wish it was all a dream,” said Garda McHugh.
Ambulance worker Damien Feeney followed Garda McHugh’s sentiments telling the packed theatre about a specific experience at the scene of one crash.
“I walked over to the passenger side of the car, where a girl was lying. I knew there was nothing more I could do for her. She was gone. As I was walking away to help the driver, the girl’s phone rang next to her – it was her father that was calling.”
The atmosphere throughout the talks was tangible, all that could be heard were faint sniffles and the ruffle of tissues.
Pete McDonnell of Castlebar Fire Brigade described his experiences of attending crashes in graphic detail at times and appealed to the students to obey the safety regulations of the road.
Doctor John Keane of Mayo General Hospital described his thoughts when receiving a call to come to the hospital.
“Getting out of bed in the middle of the night I think what terrible scene will I be faced with tonight. Will it be a young man or woman and how bad will it be?”
Doctor Keane warned the audience to leave the room or look away, before explaining graphic photos of injuries sustained as a result of car crashes which were shown to the students.
Taking the stage in a wheelchair, car crash survivor Richard Alcorn from Donegal, told his story of being an outgoing young man with everything to live for, to when a car crash in February 2006, left him wheelchair bound and resulted in his right arm having to be amputated.
Providing huge insight into life after a car crash, Richard said he got through it with the help of his family and friends. Concluding, Richard asked the audience to take to their feet and applaud those who had organised the event. After, Richard said: “Think about what you just did, you stood up and clapped. I’ll never be able to do that.”
David McGowan an undertaker from Ballina explained his role in the aftermath of a car crash, from putting the fatally injured into a body bag, showing the bag to the students, to dealing with grief-stricken families who, as he said ‘only want to bring their son or daughter home’.
Last to speak was Anne Flynn, a mother from Ardagh who lost her 23-year-old son Niall in a single vehicle collision near Ballina in September 2011. Mrs Flynn described dealing with the now empty chair at Christmas dinner and marking her son’s anniversary and birthday.
Resonating with the entire room, Mrs Flynn told the room how special Niall was to her and how much children mean to parents, while appealing to everyone to follow the rules of the road and to drive carefully.
Concluding the roadshow, MC for the presentation, Dermott Langan, told the crowd to ‘respect the road, because the road will not respect you’.