03/01/2013
Road Deaths Reach Record Low
Deaths on the road in Northern Ireland reached a record low in 2012.
Forty eight people died on Northern Ireland's roads last year; a decline on 2011’s figure of 59.
Up until 2010, when 55 people lost their lives on the road, the number of road deaths had never dropped below 100.
The 2012 figure is the lowest in over 80 years since records began.
Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: "2012 has been an important milestone for road safety in Northern Ireland, but there are still 48 families who have lost a family member over the last 52 weeks.
"I extend sympathy to those families and friends who lost loved ones through road tragedy. In a week that has seen the death of a toddler in Dundonald; I know how painful the loss of each person will have been over the last year.
"This is the lowest death toll on record. The main causes of collisions continue to be speeding, drink driving and driver, rider and pedestrian carelessness. Many more men than women are killed. Child fatalities have increased in 2012.
Mr Attwood added: "The next horizon is moving towards a vision of zero fatalities. This is some time off – but if we can move from hundreds to dozens of deaths a year, can we not move further? A zero ambition would require radical and bold action to deal with those issues and would include measures that I am already working towards – a new drink drive regime, a new driver training, testing and post-test regime, all Ireland recognition of penalty points are examples."
Head of Operations Branch, Superintendent Mark Purdon said: "One death is one too many and road safety remains and will remain a priority for the police throughout 2013.
"The pain of these avoidable deaths has touched family, friends and communities right across Northern Ireland and beyond. Each one of these victims represents a tragic loss for individual families and friends. We will be working hard to save more lives on our roads and prevent serious injuries. We are all responsible for road safety and today I am asking all drivers, passengers and pedestrians to help save lives in 2013."
(IT/GK)
Forty eight people died on Northern Ireland's roads last year; a decline on 2011’s figure of 59.
Up until 2010, when 55 people lost their lives on the road, the number of road deaths had never dropped below 100.
The 2012 figure is the lowest in over 80 years since records began.
Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: "2012 has been an important milestone for road safety in Northern Ireland, but there are still 48 families who have lost a family member over the last 52 weeks.
"I extend sympathy to those families and friends who lost loved ones through road tragedy. In a week that has seen the death of a toddler in Dundonald; I know how painful the loss of each person will have been over the last year.
"This is the lowest death toll on record. The main causes of collisions continue to be speeding, drink driving and driver, rider and pedestrian carelessness. Many more men than women are killed. Child fatalities have increased in 2012.
Mr Attwood added: "The next horizon is moving towards a vision of zero fatalities. This is some time off – but if we can move from hundreds to dozens of deaths a year, can we not move further? A zero ambition would require radical and bold action to deal with those issues and would include measures that I am already working towards – a new drink drive regime, a new driver training, testing and post-test regime, all Ireland recognition of penalty points are examples."
Head of Operations Branch, Superintendent Mark Purdon said: "One death is one too many and road safety remains and will remain a priority for the police throughout 2013.
"The pain of these avoidable deaths has touched family, friends and communities right across Northern Ireland and beyond. Each one of these victims represents a tragic loss for individual families and friends. We will be working hard to save more lives on our roads and prevent serious injuries. We are all responsible for road safety and today I am asking all drivers, passengers and pedestrians to help save lives in 2013."
(IT/GK)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.