‘I don't want to be the one to give you your last lift home’

‘I don't want to be the one to give you your last lift home’ a Funeral director has said in urging people to slow down on the roads and take their time.

In working with the Meath’s Coroner’s office, Peadar Farrelly has attended the scene of numerous road traffic fatalities in the county in recent years but is still at a loss to explain the cause of so many.

According to the RSA statistics, 136 people have lost their lives on Irish roads up to the end of September.

Peadar founded Farrelly Funeral Directors over thirty years ago and believes each decade brings its own danger on the roads.

“I have seen more frequent severe flooding on the roads due to heavier and more persistent rainfall in recent times,” he said.

“These floods are especially hard to see at night and are dangerous when you hit them.

“They can cause you to lose control of the car or automatically swerve to avoid them which may result in you losing control and hitting an oncoming car.

‘I know when we are called out at night we are very wary of encountering floods on the roads.

“I don't think you can pinpoint just one reason for accidents.

“Speed is a factor but very slow driving can also be a danger as it can lead to frustration for other drivers who may take chances like overtaking in dangerous areas.

“Driver fatigue, potholes and bad roads in general can also contribute to fatalities on the road as will driver distraction from mobile phones and of course drink and drug driving.

“There are added dangers at certain times of the year due to an increase in farm machinery particularly on country roads.”

Despite attending numerous scenes of fatalities, Peadar says each accident is just as harrowing as the last.

‘When we are notified at all hours, we know someone is going to get that call that no one wants from the gardai.

“Some family’s lives are about to be changed forever.

“When we arrive at a scene, forensics have already been there and it is up to us to remove the remains to the county morgue.

“It doesn't get any easier. The remains we are removing is someone’s son, daughter, partner, parent, or sibling. Someone’s whole world.”

“Family members may or may not be at the scene and if not they would usually ring us with questions about the exact location where their loved one died.

“I personally think it helps them to piece the jigsaw together in an effort to make some sense of it.

“I have adult children and am very conscious of the dangers out on the roads so every time they leave the house I remind them to slow down and be careful.

“Nobody is exempt from ending up in the mortuary.”