For the second year in a row, An Garda Síochána will be getting behind a safety initiative known as Project EDWARD (European Day Without a Road Death).
There’s no excuse not to exercise safety on the roads anytime you get behind the wheel, but drivers throughout Ireland and the continent are being urged to be particularly careful this coming Thursday.
For the second year in a row, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), and the AA are amongst the organisations putting their support behind Project EDWARD, a TIPSOL (European Traffic Police Network) initiative which aims to prevent a single road fatality throughout Europe on a specific day each year.
Long-term, the aim of the project is to spearhead significant and sustained reduction in death and serious injury on roads across the world.
Motorists are being urged to get behind the initiative by taking a road safety pledge and promising to take the following measures later this week.
Road safety pledge
- Remind my family, friends and colleagues to take extra care on the roads.
- Put my lights on for safety.
- Drive as safely as I can and follow the rules when behind the wheel or riding a motorbike or bicycle.
- Be extra vigilant and attentive to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, children, older people and horse riders.
- Drive at speeds that are both legal and safe.
- Carry out proper safety checks on my tyres.
- Pay particular attention when driving near schools, and where there are lots of children.
- Never drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs/medicines that could impair safety.
- Look as far ahead as possible and not tailgate other drivers
- Always wear my seat belt and ensure that everyone with me wears theirs.
- Not use my mobile phone while driving.
- Ensuring I am not distracted by anything inside or outside the car, or inside my head.
- Set a good example to my passengers by driving calmly and safely.
Ahead of Project EDWARD this Thursday, road users – including cyclists and pedestrians – are being urged to think, even for a few short minutes, about the risks they face, the risks they may pose to others and how they can go about reducing those risks.
#ProjectEdward Gardaí & GoSafe checked in excess of 80K vehicles since midnight. Compliance rate of 99.72%. Thank you for driving safely.
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) September 21, 2016
Gardaí and GoSafe vehicles monitored thousands of vehicles throughout the country and reported high compliance rates on the day of Project EDWARD last year; road users can find more information on Project EDWARD here and express their support for the initiative on social media using the hashtag #ProjectEDWARD.
2 Days to go until European Day Without A Road Death Project. Pls support #ProjectEDWARD #slowdown pic.twitter.com/sfPMvLeBkp
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) September 19, 2017
