RSA will address family's concerns but will continue to screen controversial 'Crashed Lives' advert
The Road Safety Authority has said it will respond to the Gleeson family in the coming days over its 'Crashed Lives' campaign on unaccompanied drivers - but that it will also stick to its commitment to screen the advert.
The RSA also revealed that prior to the initial run of the advert, which features the voice of Noel Clancy who lost his wife and daughter in a crash involving an unaccompanied learner driver in December 2015, it had consulted directly with the family of Susan Gleeson, the driver of the other car, and the family solicitor.
The issue has dominated RTÉ's Liveline programme in recent days, while an online petition against a recent crackdown on unaccompanied drivers has also gained thousands of signatures.
But the RSA told the Irish Examiner that it would be failing in its public service remit was it to now pull back from plans to run the campaign again, despite the pleas from the Gleeson family for it to stop.
Geraldine Clancy, 58, and daughter Louise, 22, were killed in the crash near their home in Kilworth on December 22, 2015 . The 'Crashed Lives' campaign advertisement referencing the incident aired a number of times over the Christmas period.
An RSA spokesman said: "We do not wish to ever see another Noel Clancy. And nor do we want to see another unaccompanied driver involved in another such fatal crash.
"There was and is no attempt on the part of the RSA to stigmatise learner permit holders either in general and or the person directly involved in the tragedy."
The RSA said ad made clear the "potential and catastrophic impact of driving while unaccompanied" and the cost to all involved, adding that "the campaign does and must highlight that harsh fact" and that it did not seek to victimise and was "in factual and legal terms accurate".
"The Clancy family has worked with the RSA and it is their contribution, specifically Noel’s Victim Impact Statement, which focuses the attention of the viewer on the fatal crash which occurred," the spokesman said.
"Before airing the ad we were very aware of the sensitivities involved in the case and it was for this reason that before the Crashed Lives ‘Noel Clancy’ TV ad was broadcast we consulted with the family of the other driver directly and also went through the driver’s solicitor. The family requested some minor amendments which were made and we received a formal response through their solicitor confirming that they had no objection to the airing of the commercial as made.
"We will be responding to the recent letter from the Gleeson family which was received on February 11, in the coming days."
