Mayo Footballer Donal Vaughan backs a road safety campaign to get walkers and runners to wear Hi Viz clothing when out training, as the Country is gripped by operation transformation, Couch to 5k and many more great ideas to the nation moving on their feet.

Photo by Michael Mc Laughlin.

Mr Donal Vaughan have seen an increase in the number of people calling to his shoe shops in Co .Mayo to get kitted out for walking so he has teamed up with the road safety office of Mayo County Council so now not alone will these walker/runners have new shoes but all will receive a Hi Viz Vest to wear when out exercising.

Mr Donal Vaughan stressed the importance of being seen and being safe. He said:

"The important thing for us is to reduce casualties on the roads and with the dark nights, and more and more people been health conscious taking to the roads walking and running the obvious answer is to make people more visible and I want to play my part in saving lives by distributing these Vests.

Road Safety Officer with Mayo County Council Mr Noel Gibbons said "Pedestrians are being urged to wear a high Viz jacket when they are out walking or running,195 people were killed on the country's roads in 2014, and it was the second year in a row that saw an increase in road deaths. Forty-two pedestrians have been killed in road accidents since the start of the year.

Mr Gibbons said: "We are delighted to have such a well known personality such as Mr Donal Vaughan to promote the road safety message ."Most houses usually have two or three jackets now, so we're just asking people to make use of them now rather than just have them lying in the house, just bring them with them in the car, use them when you take to the road, Also if they have a spare one and they do meet a pedestrian that doesn't have one, to do a good deed and give them a hi-viz jacket."