‘We don’t want to meet you’ - pathologist’s road safety warning

‘We don’t want to meet you’ - pathologist’s road safety warning


Edwin McGreal

In the mortuary at Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar, pathologist Dr Fadel Bennani and senior mortuary technician SeΡn Derrig have seen far more than their fair share of tragedy in the course of their daily work.
And the most tragic cases are victims from road traffic accidents, says Dr Bennani.
In a bid to further raise awareness of the importance of road safety, the duo have taken part in a short film in the mortuary, standing in front of the mortuary table where bodies are laid out. It’s all part of a Mayo County Council Christmas road safety initiative.
The message from Dr Bennani is chillingly simple  – ‘we don’t want to meet you’.
“Here at the mortuary we receive tragic cases, but the most tragic ones are the victims from road traffic accidents. The reason is because the injuries are usually horrific,” Dr Bennani said in the video.
SeΡn Derrig urged people using the roads this Christmas and New Year, and indeed all year round, ‘to be very careful on the roads and think safety at all times’.
“Witnessing very disturbing scenes at our job is not something we get used to and we really never want to meet you in our line of work,” Dr Bennani stated.

Online
The video is being circulated via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and is expected to receive national exposure.
“Road collisions effect everyone in the community so we all have to help to prevent them,” said Mayo County Council Road Safety Officer Noel Gibbons. “Drivers must remember that travelling during holiday periods can be more risky because of increased traffic volumes, congestion, tiredness, because there are higher numbers of people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and people may be driving in unfamiliar environments.
“Being courteous and flexible, remembering to share the road with others, allowing increased time for the journey, and scheduling frequent breaks can help drivers to stay safe during these high-pressure periods,” Mr Gibbons stressed.