NORTHERN Ireland's first Road Safety Awards have honoured a wide range of individuals and organisations who are working tirelessly to improve road safety in their communities.
Supported by the Road Safety Council NI, a total of 25 awards were presented across 10 categories to winners from the business, voluntary, education, emergency service and public sectors.
Winner of the inaugural lifetime achievement award, following a dedicated 22 years of service and a commitment to road safety with the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, was Station Commander Rory Dumigan.
It is estimated that Mr Dumigan has spoken to over 75,000 young people and he has been praised for the partnerships he has helped develop with other emergency services as well as local school and community groups.
He said it was a "thrill and a privilege" to be recognised with the award, which was "a testament to the ongoing stellar work of first response teams across Northern Ireland".
"As some of the first on the scene of road traffic collisions, firefighters encounter extremely difficult and harrowing experiences, seeing first-hand the tragic consequences of dangerous driving," he said.
"Alongside our partner agencies across the emergency services, firefighters are members of the communities they serve and the devastating incidents they attend have the same impact as those directly affected.
"I am also privileged to play a part in making our roads safer by being able to educate and inform current and future motorists by attending groups and schools, and this award recognises the commitment and determination by the emergency services to spread this message and continue to help our communities."
The awards were presented by UTV's Frank Mitchell at a ceremony at Cultra Manor in Holywood attended by more than 160 guests.
Tony McKeown, sales and marketing director at CRASH Services, who sponsored the awards, said they had been overwhelmed with the response.
"There is so much great work going on across the Northern Ireland to help keep our roads safe and help eliminate the tragic incidents of road death and injury," said Mr McKeown.
"The award winners' work reflects the value of educating all road users, but particularly vulnerable groups like pedestrians, young drivers, cyclists and motorcyclists.
"We hope that others will be inspired by the work of the winners. I congratulate everyone for the extraordinary commitment to road safety."
The awards, which were also supported by JMK Solicitors, Green Motion car and van rental and New Driver NI, were judged by an expert panel made up of senior representatives from the private, public and voluntary sectors.
More information at www.crashservices.com.
:: Road Safety Awards winners and highly commended
:: Primary school project
Joint winners: Holy Cross Boys' PS; and the Active School Travel Programme from Sustrans
Highly commended: Ursula Doyle; Siobhan Gillen; Carmel Stanley
:: Secondary school project
Winner: Young Passengers and Drivers Awareness Raising
Highly commended: FRESH Academy of Performing Arts; Allstate Northern Ireland's XtheTXT
:: Driving instructor
Winner: Mark Johnston of Spectrum, Bangor
Highly commended: Pat Deehan
:: Emergency services person
Winner: Station Commander Kieran Doherty
Highly commended: Constable John Wilson
:: Voluntary sector organisation
Winner: The YEAR Project, Coleraine
Highly commended: Detail Data: Two years of death and serious injury on Northern Ireland's roads
:: Public sector project
Joint winners: PSNI Roadsafe Roadshow; and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Highly commended: Belfast Policing & Community Safety Partnership; Causeway Coast and Glens Policing & Community Safety Partnership
:: Business award
Winner: Cornmarket Insurance Services
Highly commended: Kerr Group Insurance; Safe Urban Driving Scheme - Freight Transport Association
:: Lifetime achievement: Station Commander Rory Dumigan
