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."