Northern Ireland international and Liverpool football star Conor
Bradley is the latest big name signing to support a Department
for Infrastructure campaign aimed at reducing road deaths.
Bradley, fresh from Thursday's night's 2-0 victory against
Luxembourg with the NI squad in the Nations League, has given his
backing to the ‘Share the Road to Zero' initiative, which
encourages all road users to think of safety first when
travelling.
The 21-year-old defender was joined by Conrad Kirkwood, President
of the Irish Football Association, which is also supporting the
innovative campaign.
After signing up to ‘Share the Road to Zero' and just ahead of
tonight's clash against Bulgaria, Bradley said: “I am very happy
to put my name to the Share the Road to Zero campaign because we
know how totally devastating road traffic collisions can be.
“More than one quarter of all speeding offences last year
involved young drivers and as a young person that is a message I
would like to share.
“By signing up to the campaign I hope to remind others to be more
careful on the roads, watch their speed and stay off their
phones.”
The IFA has joined a growing list of organisations, including
various sporting organisations, pledging to ‘Share the Road to
Zero' and is encouraging others to do the same.
The Northern Ireland Football League, Ulster GAA, PSNI, Northern
Ireland Ambulance Service, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue
Service, Sustrans NI and councils have also backed the campaign.
Seventy one people lost their lives on roads in the north in
2023, compared to 55 people in 2022 and 50 in 2021 and many
hundreds of people have been seriously injured, which leaves too
many families, friends and communities devastated.
Minister said:
“One of the best ways to ensure safety
on our roads and fulfil our long-term goal of eliminating death
and serious injury by 2050, is by changing road user
behaviour.
“We all have a personal responsibility to behave in a way
that keeps ourselves and others safe and my Department's Share
the Road to Zero campaign reminds us of that.
“The sad reality is that if we do not change our own
attitudes when we are using the roads, our death toll will
continue to increase.
“I am delighted to have the IFA and Conor sign up to the
pledge and would encourage others to follow in their footsteps
and help us all Share the Road to Zero.”
IFA president Conrad Kirkwood said: “Sadly the number of people
who have lost their lives on the roads has risen.
“We have many supporters who travel to our games and we want
everyone to get to and from our matches safely.
“By signing up to Share the Road to Zero we hope we can play a
part in reminding people to be responsible on the roads.”
