Northern Ireland international Conor Bradley has given his backing to a major road safety campaign.
The 21-year-old defender is the latest big name signing to support the Department for Infrastructure initiative aimed at reducing road deaths.
Bradley, fresh from playing with Northern Ireland in the UEFA Nations League, is backing Share the Road to Zero, which encourages all road users to think of safety first when travelling.
Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood is also supporting the innovative campaign.
After signing up, Bradley said: “I am very happy to put my name to the Share the Road to Zero campaign because we know how totally devastating road traffic collisions can be.
“More than one quarter of all speeding offences last year involved young drivers and as a young person that is a message I would like to share."
The defender, who took part in a promotional video for the initiative, added: “By signing up to the campaign I hope to remind others to be more careful on the roads, watch their speed and stay off their phones.”
The Irish FA has joined a growing list of organisations, including various other sporting bodies, in backing Share the Road to Zero and is encouraging others to do the same.
The Northern Ireland Football League, Ulster GAA, PSNI, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, Sustrans NI and councils have also backed the campaign.
A total of 71 people lost their lives on the roads in Northern Ireland in 2023, compared to 55 in 2022 and 50 in 2021, and many hundreds of people have been seriously injured, leaving many families, friends and communities devastated.
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd said: “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 my department’s Share the Road to Zero 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.”
He said he was delighted to have the Irish FA and Conor sign up to the pledge and he encouraged others to follow in their footsteps and help everyone to Share the Road to Zero.
Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood said: “Sadly the number of people who have lost their lives on the roads has risen.
“We have many supporters who travel to our games by road and we want everyone to get to and from our matches safely.
“By signing up to Share the Road to Zero we hope we can play a part in reminding people to be responsible on the roads.”
Pledging to Share the Road to Zero can be done online via www.sharetheroadtozero.com as an individual or as an organisation.
Image: Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd joined Conor Bradley and Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park to promote the Share the Road to Zero campaign.
