Northern Ireland and Glentoran Women striker Emily Wilson has backed a road safety campaign to reduce road deaths.
The Irish Football Association is among the high profile sporting organisations that have signed up to the Share the Road to Zero campaign, which is being backed by players in the Northern Ireland senior men’s and senior women’s football teams.
Sadly 69 people died on our roads due to road traffic collisions last year and so far this year eight people have lost their lives.
In 2024 Northern Ireland and Liverpool star Conor Bradley backed the community engagement campaign, which has also been recently supported by Ulster Rugby, Northern Ireland Football League, Ulster GAA and Belfast Giants.
Emily helped the Northern Ireland senior women’s squad reach the UEFA Women’s Euros for the first time in their history in 2022.
The centre forward has played more than 30 times for her country at various age levels, from the Under-15s up to the seniors, with whom she has won 29 caps.
Speaking ahead of Northern Ireland’s Women’s Nations League game against Bosnia and Herzegovina last night, Emily said: “I love my sport and was delighted to be signed up to the Northern Ireland squad but signing up to the Share the Road to Zero campaign is a very different type of signing.
“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, and more than nine out of 10 collisions are due to human error.
“Lots of people travel to sporting fixtures and I would encourage road users to please be careful. When you are travelling to matches give yourself extra time to arrive safely.”
Infrastructure 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 at sharetheroadtozero.com.
