Combined strategy launched to improve pedestrian safety

The Minister for the Environment Dermot Nesbitt has revealed plans for a new North and South road safety campaign aimed at improving pedestrian safety throughout the island of Ireland.

The Department of Environment (DOE), in conjunction with the National Safety Council in the Republic of Ireland, will launch the campaign in September this year.

In Northern Ireland, pedestrians represent one fifth of all road users killed or seriously injured.

Each year, on average, 40 pedestrians are killed and around 300 seriously injured.

Speaking after Wednesday’s North South Ministerial Council Transport Sectoral meeting in Dublin Mr Nesbitt said: “We need a campaign to raise awareness of the number of pedestrians being killed and seriously injured on our roads. We need to make pedestrians and drivers more aware of their personal responsibility for avoiding road traffic collisions involving pedestrians.

“Pedestrians and drivers need to change their attitudes and behaviour. Even though the behaviour of pedestrians is responsible for a high proportion of all pedestrian deaths and serious injuries, improved driver behaviour could reduce the severity of collisions or may indeed avoid them completely.

“I am delighted that once again DOE is working with the National Safety Council in the Republic of Ireland, to reduce death and injury on the roads of this island. Sharing the costs of developing this campaign with the National Safety Council will be mutually beneficial. Joint campaigns have contributed previously to reducing road casualties and I look forward to another effective campaign.” (AMcE)