Mayo student's Road Safety research impresses EU Commissioner

Midlands-North-West MEP Colm Markey has extended his congratulations to Ms Órlaith Heany from Mount St Michael Secondary School in Claremorris for her exceptional submission to this year's BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. 

MEP Markey said he was ‘immediately drawn to the level of detail and depth of the project’. 

Ms Heaney's project, titled "Analysing the Impact of Curvature and Other Mitigating Road Factors on Rural Road Accidents: A Comprehensive Study," has reached the attention of the European Commissioner for Transport and Mobility for its insightful examination of rural road safety.

“Given that we have seen such an unfortunate rise in road fatalities in the opening months of this year Órlaith’s study is as timely as ever. Road safety matters to each and every one of us, and so I felt it deserved the attention of the EU’s most senior policymaker responsible for EU transport policy,” said Mr Markey.

Ms Heaney's research delves into the intricate factors contributing to the safety of rural roads, including corner curvature, road camber, and driver behaviours. By exploring these variables, her study sheds light on the underlying causes of elevated accident and fatality rates on rural roads.

The MEP's letter to the EU Transport Commissioner, Adina Vălean, highlighted the report’s findings and advocated for their consideration in ‘future policy decisions’. 

Commissioner Vălean responded and acknowledged the ‘significance of the research’ and confirmed that she has ‘forwarded the report to the relevant experts within the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport’.

“Ms Heaney’s thorough analysis and innovative approach offer valuable insights that can contribute to the development of more effective road safety measures. I am proud to see young talents like Ms Heaney making meaningful contributions to our community and look forward to seeing the positive impact of her research,” he concluded.