A MUM who lost her son is a horror car crash eight years ago has opened up on the pain she felt after the tragedy, saying “no family should have to endure this”.
Sharon Cleary has spoken of her son’s death as part of a new RSA campaign highlighting speeding on rural roads.
The campaign is supported by bereaved families and focuses on how small increases in speed can have tragic consequences.
It includes a new advert and comes as the speed limit on rural roads has been reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h.
Sharon’s son Adam Case was a back seat passenger in a car his friend was driving when the driver lost control and hit a tree.
The incident occurred just three miles from his home in Co Tipperary in 2017.
Devastated Sharon said: “Adam was a kind, fun-loving teenager who had his whole life ahead of him.
“He had no chance of survival when the driver lost control of the car.
“No family should have to endure this heartbreak.
“This powerful campaign is so important—anything that helps prevent another tragedy like this is absolutely necessary.”
Another heartbroken family member, June McArdle, told of how her dad, motorcyclist Christopher Fitzgerald, was killed on a rural road.
In 2018, hit head-on by a car that had drifted onto the other side of the road.
June said: “The tragic irony is that my dad was an incredibly careful and responsible driver—he always said his own driving wouldn’t kill him, but someone else’s could.
“He was hit head-on by a car that drifted into his path and, in an instant, he was gone.
“It was just 11 weeks before my wedding, and he had been on his way home after dropping off my wedding invitations.
“This campaign is so important because no family should have to endure this kind of heartbreak.
“We all have a responsibility to drive safely—not just for ourselves, but for everyone on the road.”
Sarah O’Connor, Director of Partnerships & External Affairs at the Road Safety Authority, said: “Too many lives are lost because drivers become too comfortable on familiar roads, unconsciously creeping up their speed without realising the deadly consequences.
“This campaign is a wake-up call—because even a small increase in speed can have the serious and tragic results.”
And Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien said: “Our priority is to protect all road users and make Ireland’s road network safer.
“A speed limit is not a target to be reached or exceeded—it’s there to save lives.
“The RSA’s advertising campaign shows us the impact speed can have and why it’s vital to watch your speed every time you take to the road.
“I would also encourage people to speak to their family about their driving habits – remind them that slowing down saves lives and helps keep everyone on the road safe.”
