With Father's Day this weekend, many are scrambling their pennies together to find a gift worthy of the special guy in their life, but you don't have to spend a lot of money to show dear old dad how much you care.

Why not break an age old tradition this Father's Day and instead of resorting to uninspiring gifts like socks and CDs, and give your Dad a unique, practical and wise gift that will remind him to keep safe all year round when on the road.

The Road Safety Office of Mayo County Council people considering buy their father a gift to think road safety for example, advanced driving lessons, a bicycle helmet, voucher towards the purchase of a car service, high visibility material or a car safety kit.

More than 3,200 people - the equivalent of eight jumbo jets - die in road crashes every day. What are we doing to tackle this global disaster?

We are also asking all fathers to lead by example on fathers day and everyday they take to the road as a motorist, pedestrian or cyclist to drive safely and for all sons and daughters to remind there fathers of the dangers on our roads.

"Last year 186 people who were killed in road collisions in Ireland. While we do take some encouragement in the fact that the number is down, it is still a tragic waste of life", said Mr. Noel Gibbons Road Safety Officer.

"Statistics show that more collisions occur in the summer months than at any other time of the year which is why we are organising a number of events in Co Mayo.''

Michael Rowland of the Road Safety Authority advices all fathers/guardians to exercise care, caution and consideration towards all road users at all times. Parents play a crucial role in imparting road safety knowledge to their children and developing an understanding of the risks involved.
It is important that as a parent you think about the lessons you are teaching your children and the examples you are setting each time you sit behind the wheel. Research shows that the way young adults act behind the wheel has a great deal to do with what they have seen since they were toddlers travelling as passengers in the back seat of your car. "It is vital that we all take greater personal responsibility to stop the carnage on our roads", he said.