Latest news with #NFD
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nicholasville Fire Department pays tribute to fallen former chief on International Firefighters' Day
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — May 4 is recognized as International Firefighters' Day, and people across the country honored those who have given their lives to protect their communities from harm. The Nicholasville Fire Department posted on Facebook on Sunday that officials visited the National Fallen Firefighters' memorial ceremony in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where former Chief Charles Brumfield's name was added. Nicholasville fire officials said the names of 12 Kentucky firefighters were added to the memorial wall this year. Frankfort to host flood recovery town hall: What to know Star Wars fans at McConnell Springs celebrate 'May the Fourth' in style Nicholasville Fire Department pays tribute to fallen former chief on International Firefighters' Day Members of the NFD said they attended the memorial ceremony to support former Chief Brumfield's family and represent the department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Irish Times
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Times
Number of private motorists without insurance almost halves in two years
The number of private motorists driving without insurance has almost halved over the last two years, with much of the decline attributed to the new Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID) system making it harder for people to evade detection. However, it is a different story when it comes to commercial vehicles, with more than one in six found to be in breach of motor insurance laws last year, according to research from the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). It recorded 101,881 uninsured private vehicles within the overall 2.4 million private vehicles being driven on Irish roads in 2024. In 2022 the number of uninsured private vehicles stood at 187,803 within an overall private vehicle total of 2.25 million. The 2024 figure represents about 4.2 per cent of all private vehicles, which points to a fall of close to 50 per cent since the last time the MIBI carried out research in 2022. READ MORE Following the development of the IMID, the MIBI has been able to examine the number of uninsured non-private motor vehicles, broadly categorised as 'commercial vehicles', through the availability of enhanced insurance data. Within the commercial vehicles category, there are generally two different means by which insurance is provided: on an individualised basis with specific vehicles tied to each policy or on fleet or motor trade policies, which allow the cover to be transferred from one vehicle to another within a specific group of vehicles. Since November 2023, fleet and motor trade policy holders who do not provide the required information to the NFD are committing an offence and are liable to be prosecuted and subjected to fines of up to €500 per vehicle. The MIBI estimates about 425,000 fleet and motor trade vehicles should be listed on the National Fleet Database. So far, the details for 364,889 have been provided. The MIBI's analysis shows that within the combined commercial vehicles category, there are 710,708 vehicles on Irish roads and 108,671 of those vehicles are either uninsured or have not yet been added to the NFD. This means 15.3 per cent of commercial vehicles or more than one in six are breaking motor insurance laws. The chief executive of the MIBI, David Fitzgerald, said it was 'very encouraging to see the impact that the new detection system is already having on the number of private uninsured vehicles on our roads'. He said it is 'a powerful weapon in the battle against uninsured driving'. Following the introduction of this system, gardaí were able to seize 18,676 vehicles in 2024 and issue 26,094 summonses and charges. 'This system allows gardaí to see in seconds if a vehicle is uninsured or has not been added to the database, allowing them to act quickly in apprehending any offenders,' Mr Fitzgerald said. However, he said there is 'clearly additional work to do to combat illegal uninsured driving'.
Irish Independent
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Massive drop in number of motorists driving without insurance following database introduction
It comes after the recent introduction of the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID), which allows gardaí at checkpoints to identify any uninsured vehicles within seconds through their hand-held mobile devices or via automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems. This is being credited with a fall of 86,000 in the number of uninsured private vehicles on the roads over the past two years. Traditionally, this country has had the highest level of uninsured vehicles in the European Union. In the past, the rate has been three times that of the UK and four times the average across the European Union and the European Economic Area. But the new roadside detection system used by gardaí has seen the numbers taking the risk of driving without insurance plummet. The database was created following collaboration between the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI), Insurance Ireland and Irish-based insurers. Figures compiled by the MIBI show that the number of uninsured drivers on the roads has fallen from 188,000 in 2022 to 102,000 last year – a fall of almost 86,000 in the two-year period. In percentage terms, the current number of uninsured vehicles represents 4.2pc of the overall private fleet in the State. This is down from 8.3pc in 2022, a 50pc reduction, the MIBI said. This also means the number of uninsured private vehicles has dropped from one in every 12 in 2022, to one in every 25 last year. Advanced work on the motor insurance database has allowed the MIBI to look at the number of commercial vehicles on the road. They can be insured on an individualised basis, with specific vehicles tied to each policy. We can now see that theory being turned into reality Or they can use fleet or motor trade policies, where the insurer allows for the motor insurance to be transferred from one vehicle to another within a specific group of vehicles. The details for these vehicles are required by law to be added to the National Fleet Database (NFD), which is a dedicated subsection of the motor insurance database. MIBI said since November 2023, fleet and motor trade policy-holders who do not provide the required information to the fleet database are committing an offence. They are liable to be prosecuted and subjected to fines of up to €500 per vehicle. The MIBI estimates approximately 425,000 fleet and motor trade vehicles should be listed on the NFD. So far, the details for 364,889 have been provided. The MIBI's analysis shows as many as 109,000 commercial vehicles are either uninsured or have not yet been added to the national fleet database. Chief executive of the MIBI, David Fitzgerald said it is encouraging to see the impact that the new detection system is already having on the number of private uninsured vehicles on our roads. 'Following its introduction, the number of uninsured private vehicles has practically halved, which is good news for all road users and anyone concerned about Irish road safety,' Mr Fitzgerald said. He said the MIBI view was that the motor insurance database will represent a powerful weapon in the battle against uninsured driving. 'We can now see that theory being turned into reality,' he said. Uninsured drivers add between €30 and €35 to each compliant driver's annual insurance premium. The MIBI was set up by insurers to compensate victims of road traffic accidents caused by uninsured and unidentified vehicles.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A ‘firefighter's firefighter': Remembering the life, legacy of Bobby Connelly
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Community members are mourning the death of Bobby Connelly, who started with the Nashville Fire Department (NFD) in 1959 and moved through the ranks of firefighter, engineer, captain, and district chief over the course of 53 years. Another former chief from NFD, Buck Dozier, said Connelly will leave behind a huge legacy. 'Many people are going to use two terms this week — legend and hero — and most certainly, that's what he was, but he's more than that for most people, especially firefighters,' Dozier told News 2. 'He heard things from citizens: their screams, their yells, their sobbing, even their good points.' In 2003, Connelly was off-duty when he got a call from his sister-in-law about a fire at NHC Healthcare Center. Connelly's 91-year-old mother was one of 16 casualties in the fire. SEPTEMBER 2023: Firefighter remembers mother on 20th anniversary of NHC nursing home fire Dozier called Connelly a 'firefighter's firefighter' who loved to be where the action was and always looked out for others. 'Somebody would come up to me and say, 'Where is Chief Connelly?' I'd say, 'Turn around.' I said, 'You see where the flames are, the hottest part of the fire?' I said, 'He's either there or he's en route to that position,'' Dozier explained. 'He didn't like to stand in the street. He liked to go in with the men and be a part of what they were trying to do.' After five decades of firefighting, Connelly retired in 2013. The Metro Council named NFD Station No. 9 in his honor just a few months later. In addition, he worked with author Erin Cunningham to detail his storied career in the book 'Refined by Fire: The Bobby Connelly Story.' 'His eyes saw things that most citizens never saw. His hands touched things that most citizens wouldn't touch,' Dozier said. NOVEMBER 2016: Former Nashville fire chief details 53-year career in new book Years ago, Dozier said a wall fell on Connelly at the intersection of 4th Avenue South and Chestnut Street, which almost killed him, but he survived with some broken bones. Dozier added that Connelly's uniform and helmet were often black from confronting danger inside burning buildings. Dozier recalled a conversation he had with Connelly: 'I said he was a great firefighter. He said, 'No, no, Chief, don't ever say that.' He said the best thing that you can ever say about a firefighter [is] 'He was a good firefighter.' And I'm here today to say…Chief Connelly was a good firefighter.' According to Dozier, even in Connelly's late 60s and early 70s, he volunteered to work in the Florida Everglades to help put out wildfires. 'They said he was just as good as the younger guys,' Dozier added. Connelly was also chosen as the model for the firefighter statue at the 9/11 memorial in downtown Nashville. ⏩ Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell shared a statement with News 2 about Connelly's death, saying, 'Bobby Connelly showed what it meant to love your city and love your profession. For 53 years, he ran towards danger as a firefighter, and he was an example of selflessness and sacrifice. I am lucky to know him and will miss his spirit. I'm glad his legacy will live on as the fire hall he served in now bears his name.' NFD's hockey team posted to social media mourning the loss of Connelly, adding that at one point, he served as the team's coach. The Nashville Firefighters' Honor Guard also shared a message, saying Connelly had an illness caused by a line-of-duty injury and battled it 'like a true HERO.' Meanwhile, Box 55 — an organization meant to serve Nashville firefighters with on-scene hydration, nutrition, and body temperature regulation — wrote, 'Our Box 55 team is saddened for the loss of a Nashville Fire Department Giant, Chief Bobby Connelly. The city lost a great one but Heaven received a HERO. Thank you Chief for your service and your love for others. It was a blessing to serve you for many years. You will be missed but never forgotten.' A visitation will be held for Connelly at Woodbine Funeral Home: Hickory Chapel from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12. The next day, there will be a visitation at Judson Baptist Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by a service. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
