Families remember loved ones beyond road collision statistics
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Eamonn Karran of Northern Ireland shared his experience after his 18-year-old son, Noah, died in a road traffic collision in 2024.
Karran attended a “Say Their Name” event hosted by Road Victim Support Northern Ireland-Donegal, which aims to help bereaved families celebrate the lives of those they’ve lost and remember them as individuals, not just as statistics. He explained that focusing on the person behind the number is vital, as each statistic represents a life lived and loved.
Karran described the support he received after Noah’s death as a “lifeline” and admitted he initially resisted seeking help, believing he needed to remain strong for his family. He later realized he needed support and found it through Road Victim Support Northern Ireland-Donegal and its founder, Debbie Mullan, who also lost a son in a road crash.
As of Friday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) reported 47 people had died in road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland this year. Karran hopes events like these will raise awareness that each number represents a person with a full life, and that sharing experiences can help others cope with grief, particularly men who may be less likely to seek support.
