General
Football Bosses ask Motorists to Play Ball
By Noel Gibbons
8, Jul 2009 - 08:58

Football bosses ask Motorists to play ball,’ Mayo and Galway Football managers have kick-started a campaign to encourage motorists to watch their speed.

The football managers took time out from preparation for the big game to be played on Sunday July 19th  to show their support for Mayo County Council’s and Galway County Council’s ‘Slow down for the Show Down’ campaign, which aims to bring down traffic speeds on our roads.

The campaign asks motorists and passengers to make a personal commitment to drive at appropriate and legal speeds in a bid to tackle concerns about speeding in local communities and a special appeal will be made at the big match on Sunday for all the fans to drive with care.

Mr John O’Mahony, Mayo's County football manager, said: "On the football pitch, speed is a necessity – but excessive and inappropriate speed on the road is not ‘fair play’.

"Apart from the obvious risk of causing injury and death, it also creates distress among other road users leading to people feeling unsafe as they walk, cycle or on our roads.

"I am proud to support this worthwhile campaign, and I hope that local people will to help to make their communities safer places."

The campaign is also being backed by Mr Liam Sammon, Galway’s County football manager.

Footballers and managers will be encouraging local people to make their pledge to ‘Slow down for the show down’ and to think every time when they sit in a vehicle before they turn the key or as a passenger, that they will not speed.

Mr Liam Sammon, Galway’s County football manager said: "Speeding traffic is a prime concern in many communities. We want motorists to think about their speed and how it might affect others as they pass through our communities. Sometimes this might mean slowing down to a speed below that of the signed limit. We hope everyone takes note."

Slow down for the show down is co-ordinated by Mayo County Council’s Road Safety Together Committee and Galway County Council’s Road Safety Together Committee, the GAA County board and other community safety agencies as part of their road safety education and casualty reduction strategy.

Ms Deirdre Caulfield, Road Safety Officer, Galway County Council said ''This is another opportunity to remind football fans about their road safety responsibilities.  Fans should ensure the enjoyment of the game isn’t followed by tragedy on the road,”

Individuals and organisations wishing to follow their football team’s example and make a commitment to ''Slow down for the show down'' should ask all their family members to adhere to the rules of the road at all times and lead by example in your own community.

Mr Noel Gibbons, Road Safety Officer, Mayo County Council said 'We want all road users to change their behaviours and make these changes part of their lives in the future, which will save lives and reduce serious injuries on our roads.'



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