IFA senior women’s football team backs road safety campaign
Date published:
Northern Ireland international footballer and Glentoran Women player Emily Wilson has backed a road safety campaign to reduce road deaths.
The Irish Football Association is among a number of high-profile sporting organisations that have signed up to the Department for Infrastructure’s Share the Road to Zero campaign.
Last year Northern Ireland international and Liverpool star Conor Bradley backed the community engagement initiative on behalf of the senior men’s team.
And now members of the senior women’s football team have thrown their support behind the campaign, spearheaded by Antrim-born forward Emily, who helped Northern Ireland reach the UEFA Women’s Euro finals for the first time in their history in 2022.
Speaking after Northern Ireland’s Women’s Nations League 3-2 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Inver Park in Larne on Tuesday evening, Emily said:
“I love my sport, and I’m always delighted to be called into the Northern Ireland senior squad, but signing up to the ‘Share the Road to Zero’ campaign is an equally important call-up and commitment.
“I hope I will encourage road users to take more care because road traffic collisions can be totally devastating. And sadly the number of people who have lost their lives on our roads has risen, with more than nine out of 10 collisions due to human error.
“I would encourage road users to be careful and if you are travelling to sporting fixtures to support your team, please give yourself extra time to arrive safely.”
Sadly, 69 people lost their lives on roads in the north in 2024, compared to 71 in 2023. Hundreds of people were also seriously injured.
So far this year eight people have lost their lives on our roads.
Minister Liz Kimmins said:
“I am delighted that Emily has signed up to our Share the Road to Zero Campaign on behalf of the Northern Ireland Senior Women’s team.
“Together we hope to encourage fans who travel to matches and games to take care and responsibility on the roads.
“The number of road deaths on our roads is of great concern and each loss leaves many families, friends and communities devastated.
“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 this 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.”
Pledging to ‘Share the Road to Zero’ can be done online via: Share the Road to Zero as an individual or as an organisation.
Notes to editors:
- Photo caption: Northern Ireland international footballer and Glentoran Women player Emily Wilson encourages road users to take more care as she signs up to the Department for Infrastructure’s Share the Road to Zero campaign on behalf of the senior women’s football team.
- All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
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