8 November 2000

SAM FOSTER EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER GROWING NUMBER OF ROAD DEATHS

Minister of the Environment, Mr Sam Foster MLA, today raised his concerns regarding the increasing number of deaths on the roads.

More people have been killed this year than for the whole of last year.

Mr Foster said: "I am very concerned that already this year more people have been killed on the roads than for the whole of 1999. Every death is a death too many.

"This year there has been a sharp increase specifically in the number of drivers killed. Eighty drivers so far have lost their lives compared to forty-eight over the same period last year, with only a relatively small change in the numbers of passengers, pedestrians and cyclists killed.

"We must not lose sight of the fact that the long term trend in road deaths is downwards. Twenty-five years ago around 350 people were being killed on our roads each year; the current yearly average is around 150. But inevitably there will be peaks and troughs - last year, for example, saw the lowest number of deaths on our roads for over forty years.

"Human lives are more important than statistics which is why all of us must continue to do everything we can to make the roads safer. For my part I will ensure my Department continues to get the road safety message across and I am investing more resources in road safety education in our schools and in road safety publicity through the media.

"I expect to publish, within the next few weeks, a consultation document on a new road safety strategy for Northern Ireland for the next decade. The consultation document will be made available widely to the public and to road safety interest groups for comment.

"Government can only do so much. Everyone who gets behind the wheel of a car is driving a potentially lethal weapon. So in a year when the numbers of drivers killed on our roads has risen sharply, I would ask everyone to slow down, to never ever drink and drive and always to remember to wear a seat belt."

 

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