Roadshow Bring Home Harsh Reality of Road Accidents

The award-winning Police Service of Northern Ireland Roadsafe Road Show brought a stark and emotional reminder of the consequences of road accidents to Stormont on Tuesday, 15 October.

Normally reserved for school pupils across Northern Ireland, the show was presented to MLAs, sports groups, and other dignitaries in a special event held in the Long Gallery.

The roadshow, a collaboration between the PSNI's Road Policing Unit, AXA Insurance, and the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership, has been running for two decades. Targeting young people aged 25 and under, who are at a higher risk of road traffic accidents, the show aims to educate and prevent future tragedies.

Through graphic depictions of a night out gone wrong, the roadshow tells a compelling story of the devastating consequences of road accidents. A police officer, a paramedic, a fire officer, a young man who served time in prison for a serious collision, and a young person who was paralysed share their personal experiences. The narrative is enhanced by music and video clips.

The roadshow has already reached tens of thousands of teenagers across Northern Ireland, leaving a lasting impression on its audience.

Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson said: "The Roadsafe Roadshow has been a major success and it enables us to bring a road safety message to thousands of young people in the highest risk group. We have no doubt that the road show shocks, perhaps even horrifies, our young audiences. Now was the chance for a much broader audience to view the road show and take away the important message.

"We believe that showing realistically just what happens on our roads has an impact on those who attend, from students to MLAS. Our hope is that after seeing the roadshow they all realise how vulnerable they are and they must respect the roads and other users. "One of the hardest parts of any police officer's job is breaking the news of the death or injury of a loved one to relatives. It is especially heart-breaking when that news is of a young person whose whole life lay ahead. Most traffic collisions could have been avoided and we hope that the road show will help young people realise the consequences of their actions."

Department for Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd added: "This roadshow gives us a powerful and important reminder of the devastation caused and the lives shattered following serious road traffic collisions.

"The death rate on our roads is, on average, one per week and the devastation each and every road death leaves in its wake knows no boundaries.

"As road users we must all do everything we can – both individually and collectively – to reduce road deaths and serious injury and to make sure we all return home safe from our journeys at the end of the day."

Marguerite Brosnan, CEO AXA Ireland said: "AXA Insurance is proud to sponsor the Roadsafe Roadshow event which is now entering its 21st year. As one of the largest insurance groups in Europe we deal with numerous claims each week as a result of road collisions.

"The effects are well documented, too many young people are being killed on our roads or injured for life. 71 people lost their lives on Northern Ireland roads in 2023, an increase of 16 fatalities on the previous year.

"I hope that young students who usually attend this event will think twice about the seriousness of road safety and the consequences of taking risks on the roads."

A spokesperson from the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership said: "The Partnership is committed to contributing to reducing the number of collisions and causalities on our roads by preventing and detecting speeding offences. We are now delighted to also sponsor the Roadshow as a means of reaching young people and helping them make safer choices on the roads."