A Garda of 36 years says it never gets easier to tell someone that their loved one has died in a road crash.
(Source: www.pixabay.com)Assistant Commissioner at the National Roads Policing Bureau David Sheahan is appealing to us all to be extra careful when on the road over the Easter weekend and to not take any risks.
David has explained that despite his experience in the role, having to tell someone that a family member or friend has been killed in a road accident is extremely tough.
"You're calling to doors at 3 o'clock in the morning or 4 o'clock in the evening, it doesn't make one iota of difference. The minute those people see your face and look into your eyes, because no matter how strong you are you do well up, and they know the news is not good. You've to cradle those people against your heart and say I'm so sorry and those people then grieve for the rest of their lives."
Gardaí are warning that this bank holiday weekend they will be cracking down on motorists using mobile phones while driving.
There has been a 24 per cent increase in the number of people found on the phone while driving and so far this year 80,000 penalty points notices have been issued.
David Sheahan says some people have been caught on social media while they are at the wheel:
"The problem that we have is that people have changed from using a mobile phone for texting, what they're actually doing is surfing the net, they're looking at their Instagram or Facebook, and what we're trying to say to them is for God's sake stop."
Cover image via flickr
