Tiger Woods crash drives safety message home

Date: 25-02-2021

This week we learned of a high profile person being involved in a car crash , Mr Tiger woods . Tiger Woods likely owes his life to his seat belt, his airbags and the improved safety of modern vehicles, according to the L.A. County Sheriff’s deputy who was first on the scene of the golfer’s Tuesday morning car crash on the Palos Verdes Peninsula Los Angeles.

With this crash it is quite evident that seat belts save lives , but the sad facts are too many people still don’t wear seat belts , a recent report by the RSA revealed 1 in 4 drivers and passengers killed in 2020 were not wearing a seat belt. It is said while it won’t prevent a crash, wearing a seat belt can reduce the severity of injuries, if you are involved in a crash. In fact, wearing one reduces the risk of death among drivers and front seat passengers by half, and the risk of death and serious injuries among rear seat occupants by a quarter.

"Wearing a seatbelt can mean the difference between life and death – sadly it is an issue that it is still apparent on Irish roads and it’s disappointing to see that people are still choosing to risk their lives and the lives of others.

“Seatbelts are one of the simplest and most important features for protecting motorists and their passengers. It is essential that everyone wears a seatbelt, not just the driver. In a collision, an unrestrained back seat passenger can be thrown forward with enough force to kill the person in front.

“Collisions can happen at any time so it is vital that everyone wears a seatbelt on every journey, no matter how short. They are really easy to use and are proven to save lives so please make sure you wear yours.Ultimately, we want to prevent people getting killed or injured on our roads, but that requires better decisions by those drivers who continue to take unacceptable risks," he said Noel Gibbons Road Safety Officer, Communications Department Mayo County Council.