By Super User on Monday, 24 November 2003
Category: RI Releases

Road Safety Campaigner, Eddie Shaw, Wins Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year

Road Safety Campaigner, Eddie Shaw, Wins Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year

Pictuerd (l to r) are: Tom Noonan, Chief Executive, The Maxol Group, Eddie Shaw, Person of the Year, An Tanaiste, Mary Harney and Paul O'Grady, Editor, Irish Motor Management

Eddie Shaw, Chairman of the National Safety Council was today (Monday 24th November) named the prestigious 2003 Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year at an awards ceremony at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. 

An Tanaiste, Mary Harney, presented the award to Eddie Shaw, in recognition of his outstanding work as Chairperson of the National Safety Council of Ireland, which involves his unrelenting commitment to campaigning on the issue of road safety in Ireland and the implementation of education programmes, media campaigns and community activities to positively influence public attitude and behaviour in relation to Road and Fire Safety issues.  The penalty points system and subsequent awareness campaign has resulted in a 19% decrease in road deaths in the twelve months following its introduction in November 2002. 

There were ten nominees for this year’s awards, which are run in association with Irish Motor Management Magazine.  The awards recognise the contribution that key Irish motor industry individuals have made both to the industry and beyond - whether it be through their local community or internationally.  Now in its sixth year, last year’s winner was Dorothea Dowling, who as a voluntary member and Chairperson of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board, was author of the report that led to the most comprehensive investigation of the Irish insurance industry to date. 

Commenting at the awards ceremony, Tom Noonan, Chief Executive, The Maxol Group said:  

“It is a testament to the vibrancy and innovation of the Irish motor industry that for a sixth year we have honoured a remarkable group of people in the Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year Awards.  Eddie Shaw has been relentless in his campaigning on the critical issue of road safety.  He has also been innovative with the Council’s highly impactful North/South TV advertising campaign having won a major advertising award, as well as making a very significant contribution to raising awareness of all aspects of road safety. The public and the motor industry are exceptionally well served by further investment in road safety measures and the heightened awareness of road safety issues brought about by his and the National Safety Council’s initiatives.” 

Paul O¹Grady, Commercial Director of Irish Motor Management magazine, also speaking at the awards ceremony commented:


”The Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year Awards have recognised exceptional people in the motor industry. All the winners have, in differing ways, made fine contributions to Irish life.  I would like to congratulate Eddie Shaw and all the Person of the Month winners who are honoured here today." 

The judges for this years Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year Awards included Andrew Hamilton, Motoring Editor of The Irish Times; Cyril McHugh, Chief Executive of SIMI; Brian Murphy, Past President of SIMI and Managing Director of Belgard Motors; Noel Smyth, Retail Motor Industry Federation, Northern Ireland and Paul O’Grady, Commercial Director of Irish Motor Management Magazine.