Last year, 188 people lost their lives on Irish roads.
These included 83 drivers, 38 passengers, 35 pedestrians, 22 motorcyclists and 10 pedal cyclists and each and every one was remembered in RTÉ's harrowing documentary After The Crash last night.
The victims ranged from a young father to a doting grandmother, from a bubbly secondary student to a young mother and her teenage son. The documentary featured interviews with loved ones who have been left to deal with the unimaginable grief which follows these tragic incidents.
Below is just a snippet of the heartbreaking footage:
After the Crash displayed the name of every 2016 road victim on the screen throughout the hour-long broadcast, interjected by in-depth interviews with the loved ones of a few.
The programme made for sobering viewing and really hit home the message of road safety. In particular, the sudden nature of the participants' grief appeared to make a powerful impact on the audience. Feelings ranged from shock and anger to gratitude towards RTÉ and the producers that such an important documentary was broadcast.
A truly heartbreaking programme made all the more poignant by seeing a friends name .....look once look twice for bikes #afterthecrash
— Tara Hammond (@SlatedIreland) February 9, 2017
#afterthecrash if anyone has missed #AftertheCrash.Watch it on @RTEplayer Everyone should watch it,change our attitudes to using the roads
— Joe O'Brien (@pnamblath) February 8, 2017
This programme should be shown in secondary schools and to all drivers before they get their licence #afterthecrash
— Brenda Drumm (@BrendaDrumm) February 8, 2017
#afterthecrash each name that comes up on screen is like a punch in the stomach
— Celine Crawford (@Celinemmc) February 8, 2017
#afterthecrash is possibly the most powerful documentary I've seen. Please God never let my loves be on that list. Heartbreaking.
— Niamh Sherlock (@niamhsherlock) February 9, 2017
Raw emotion is most powerful, heart broken. pls slow down its a limit not a target #afterthecrash
— Di Collins (@DiCCollins) February 9, 2017
#afterthecrash should be seen not just by young but by all drivers. A heartbreaking programme with an extremely powerful message.
— Alva (@AilbheXox) February 9, 2017
So hard to watch but brilliant programme..people never think it will happen to them????#afterthecrash
— Chloe McNamee (@chloemcnamee12) February 9, 2017
I wasn't going to watch #afterthecrash for obvious reasons. So glad I did, beautifully done, hope it saves someone's life and family
— Jack Marshall (@corklfc2) February 8, 2017
I have genuinely been left speechless after that programme???? #afterthecrash
— Orla O'Connor (@OrlaOC_98) February 8, 2017
Well done to everyone involved in #afterthecrash Shows the heartbreak that happens behind the headlines. Such brave families #staysafe
— Olivia King (@chuckles33) February 8, 2017
If you didn't manage to catch After The Crash last night it's now available to watch in full on RTÉ Player.
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