An 'ambitious but achievable' vision to cut road deaths to zero by 2050..

New safety campaign aims to educate drivers on taking more care in cars

- SEAN MURPHY

ROAD safety chiefs harked back to the first-ever traffic accident fatality in 1879 as they vowed to reduce deaths to zero by 2050.

Transport Minister of State Jack Chambers yesterday said the aim was "ambitious" but "achievable".

The strategy was launched to centre around the story of a 19th century Offaly woman called Mary Ward, who the Road Safety Authority claimed "was the first person in the world to be killed in a road accident.

Helping to launch the Road M Safety Strategy 2021-2030, RSA chief Sam Waide said: "Since the world's first recorded road death in Co Offaly in 1869, there have been thousands of other lives lost tragically on Irish roads.

"Our 'Who was Mary Ward?' campaign asks the public to join this concerted effort in achieving Vision Zero - the ambition that no one will lose their life on Irish roads by 2050.

"If every member of the public today committed to making one positive change in their driving behaviour, it will make our roads a safer place and help us in achieving this vision."

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