The Stena Line Belfast Giants have backed a road safety community
engagement campaign to reduce road deaths as winter gets under
way.
The Giants are the latest high profile sporting organisation to
sign up to the Share the Road to Zero campaign, led by their
Captain .
Ulster Rugby, the Irish Football Association, the Northern
Ireland Football League and Ulster GAA also backed the campaign
this year.
Sadly, so far in 2024, 60 people have died due to road
traffic collisions.
has now registered more than
180 appearances for the Giants since arriving in Belfast from
Canada for the 2021/22 season.
He was appointed captain ahead of the 2023/24 season, during
which he led the club to its successful Champions Hockey League
campaign and the Elite League Playoff Final.
Speaking ahead of their game against Coventry Blaze on Wednesday
evening, Mark said: “The SSE Arena sits between six and 8,000
people so we will have a bunch of families and people driving to
the game.
“Leaving extra early and making sure you give yourself enough
time is ideal to keep you and your family safe.
“Without question, road safety is of the utmost importance for
everyone, so I'm pleased that we can lend our support to such a
vital cause and the Belfast Giants are proud to be supporting the
all-important Share the Road to Zero initiative.”
Minister said: “We are delighted to have
The Belfast Giants sign up to our Share the Road to Zero Campaign
and to encourage their fans who travel to games to take care and
responsibility on the roads.
“The winter is on top of us and the roads can be treacherous with
snow, frost and heavy rainfall and every action you take as a
road user ensures you arrive home safely and your loved ones
arrive home safely.
“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.
“We can all potentially save a life if we RoadWise Up. Pay
attention, slow down, wear your seat belt, don't use your mobile
phone while driving and never, ever drink or take drugs and
drive.”
Steve Thornton, Group Head of Commercial and Hockey at The
Odyssey Trust, commented: “Undoubtedly, it's incredibly sad to
hear that the number of people who have lost their lives on
Northern Ireland's roads has risen.
“By signing up to the Share the Road to Zero campaign, we hope
that the Belfast Giants can play a role in reminding people to be
responsible on the roads at all times.”
Pledging to ‘Share the Road to Zero' can be done online
via www.sharetheroadtozero.com
as an individual or as an organisation.
