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6 July 2005

NUMBER OF KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED ON ROADS FALLING

A report has shown that measures taken to reduce numbers of killed and seriously injured on our roads are working.

The Department of the Environment’s second Annual Report on the Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy 2002 – 2012, has been published today and shows that the overall number of people killed or seriously injured in 2004 fell by a further 8%. This brings the figures to 24% below the levels set in the Strategy, which was published in 2002.

The figures for the number of children killed or seriously injured are even more significant with a 12% drop, bringing the figures to 39% below the original Strategy level. The Strategy sets targets for 2012 to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 33% and child fatalities and serious injuries by 50% from the average for the 5-year period of 1996-2000.

Commenting on the figures, the DOE’s Director of Road Safety, Wesley Shannon, said: "I am very encouraged by what was achieved during the second year of the Road Safety Strategy. This shows that we in DOE and our partners in DRD and PSNI are on the right track. Achieving these targets is not, and never has been, the limit of our aspirations. They are simply milestones along the way towards making the roads safer for everyone.

"We know that we might encounter setbacks in the years ahead but I think today’s Report shows we are on the right path and I am confident that we can build on these achievements over the next year and beyond.

"Whilst we in the Government Departments and Agencies will do all we can, I urge everyone to take personal responsibility for safety on our roads. Take heed of the road safety messages, slow down, pay attention, do not drive after taking drink or drugs and always wear a seat belt."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  • The Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy was published on 6 November 2002.

  • The strategy sets out the strategic objectives proposed to improve road safety up to 2012 and identifies the action measures planned by the departments and agencies whose activities contribute to road casualty reduction.

  • The strategy promotes an integrated partnership approach by the statutory road safety departments and agencies, primarily the Department of the Environment, the Department for Regional Development and the Police Service of Northern Ireland which look after road safety education and publicity, engineering and enforcement respectively.

  • Included in the strategy is a target to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 33% and a further target of a 50% reduction in the numbers of children killed and seriously injured from the average for the period from 1996 to 2000.

  • In 2004 the number of people killed or seriously injured fell by 8% compared with 2003 to a level 24% below the 1996-2000 baseline.

  • The number of children killed and seriously injured in 2004 fell by 12% compared with 2003 to a level 39% below the 1996-2000 baseline.

For further media information contact: DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0003 or press.office@doeni.gov.uk

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