The Road Safety Authority (RSA) launched their new Motorway Safety Campaign, with a 40 second advert designed to highlight the danger faced on Ireland’s motorway network. Since 2005, over 100 people have been killed or seriously injured as a result of collisions on Ireland’s motorway, worryingly, 6 people have already died in motorway collisions in 2011.

The key concern to all the agencies involved in the launch, the RSA, An Garda Síochána, National Roads Authority and the Automobile Association, is the number of pedestrians who were killed on motorways in 2010. Tragically, four people lost their lives while walking on motorways, the highest number in the five year period from 2005 to 2010. The public was reminded at the launch never to walk on a motorway, no matter what the reason or urgency.

Mr. Noel Brett, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority said “The message is clear: never ever walk on a motorway. Pedestrians are at a massive risk on a motorway – you’re taking your life in your hands and putting other road users in danger too. Likewise, drivers who stop on a motorway can cause collisions involving their own car and potentially many others. It’s unsafe and it’s an offence.”