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Fifty nine died on Northern Ireland's roads in 2011

Environment Minister Alex Attwood today confirmed that there were 59 road deaths in Northern Ireland in 2011.
~ Tuesday, 3 January 2012

These are provisional figures released today by PSNI. Last year 55 people died. Up until 2010, the number of road deaths had never dropped below 100.

Alex Attwood said: “One death on the road is one too many and my deep sympathies go to all those families who lost loved ones in 2011. Much more remains to be done to educate road users, prosecute offenders, impose the right penalties and reduce risk.

“Just like you and me, those people were going about their normal business, presumably with hope, ambition and enthusiasm for the life they expected to have. But they didn’t get the chance to fulfil their ambitions. We owe it to their memory, each and every one of us, to take every care when driving.

“It needs to be acknowledged that seven out of 11 of the most recent fatalities have been pedestrians.

“Given the impact a collision has on the human body, all road users are fragile and vulnerable. Yet vulnerability increases dramatically for pedestrians. In the last five years, pedestrians accounted for 18% of road deaths and serious injuries, compared to 62% for car drivers and passengers.

“All of us walk the roads, we need to be careful and drivers need to grow their awareness of the risks to pedestrians. Indeed I am assessing how to address the categories of risk going forward.

“A total of 14,522 people have been killed since records began in 1931 in Northern Ireland alone. A further 73,450 have suffered serious injuries since serious injuries were first recorded in 1971. There is now a legacy in Northern Ireland where many thousands of families have been devastated by the grief of loss and the heartache of long term serious injury. One sign of hope is that there has been a significantly lower number of fatalities over the last two years. This is a positive reflection on our community, showing that many people are heeding the road safety message and that enforcement and education initiatives are having an impact.”

The Department will continue working in partnership with the DRD’s Roads Service, the PSNI, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance Service amongst others, delivering a programme of road safety education, engineering and enforcement initiatives.

The Minister added: “I am committed to ensuring that everything possible is done to prevent further deaths and serious injuries during 2012. I continue to urge road users to pay attention, expect the unexpected, slow down, always wear your seatbelt and never drive having consumed drink or drugs. A new phase of road safety messages are about to be issued. This will help reduce risk but all of us road users need to be safe, be careful, be vigilant and travel safely."

Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay said: "59 people have been killed on roads across Northern Ireland in 2011, with many more seriously injured. While these figures are still low when compared to previous years, behind each fatality, there are families, friends and communities which have been devastated, so we must never be complacent on this issue.

"The stark reality is that the majority of road traffic collisions are preventable. Excessive speed for the conditions is still the most common single cause of fatal and serious injuries on roads in Northern Ireland, followed by the consumption of alcohol or drugs by drivers or riders and inattention or diverted attention.

"We make absolutely no apology for robustly targeting dangerous and inappropriate driving and need public support to reinforce the road safety message.

"We all have a role to play in preventing deaths and injuries on our roads. All we ask is that drivers slow down, do not drive after drinking or taking drugs, wear a seatbelt and drive with greater care and attention."

Notes to editors:

  1. Provisional figures released today show that in 2011 there was 59 deaths on Northern Ireland roads as a result of road traffic collisions.
  2. In 2000, 171 people were killed and over the past decade, this has steadily declined to 107 in 2008, declining further to 55 in 2010 – which was the lowest ever since records began.
  3. 14,522 people have lost their lives on NI roads since records began in 1931 and 73,450 have suffered serious injuries since serious injuries were first recorded in 1971. (The serious injuries figure does not include 2011 as this will not be confirmed until mid-2012 although it is expected to be several hundred).
  4. Road user fatalities in 2011, by category, are as follows;

    Pedestrian 13
    Driver 26
    Passenger 11
    Pedal Cyclist 2
    Motorcyclist 6
    Pillion Passenger 1
    TOTAL 59
  5. Northern Ireland Road Deaths 2006-2011
    Year Total
    2006 126
    2007 113
    2008 107
    2009 115
    2010 55
    2011 59
  6. The table below shows a snapshot of road death trends at various years from 1931 to present day.
    Year Total
    1931 114
    1945 124
    1953 163
    1964 219
    1969 257
    1972 372
    1982 216
    1990 185
    2000 171
    2009 115
    2010 55
    2011 59
  7. Some of the activities the Department of Environment has engaged in during 2011 include:

    · Launch of the ‘Moment’ campaign which addresses driver carelessness and inattention. This carries the strapline “One Lapse Can Last a Lifetime.”

    · The Department launched a new road safety strategy in March this year. It is a very comprehensive approach to protecting road users over the next ten years and includes nearly 200 measures.

    · Minister Attwood established a road safety forum to facilitate the sharing of views and concerns of key stakeholders.

    · The Department continued working in partnership with the PSNI, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Ambulance Service, to deliver a programme of road safety education, engineering and enforcement initiatives.

    · DOE continued to work closely with other organisations to deliver the road safety message at local levels. In particular, the GAA, Young Farmers Clubs’ of Ulster, Allstate Technology, Coca-Cola and several motorsport organisations have been hugely supportive.

    · The Department has also awarded grants to the voluntary and community sector to address local road safety issues.

    · While DOE has responsibility for road safety many partners have contributed to improvements during 2010. The Police have targeted resources towards rural areas and have continued their enforcement of speeding.
  8. In the past five years pedestrians accounted for 18% of road deaths and serious injuries, compared to 62% for car drivers and passengers. But the highest risk pedestrians in the past five years, over-represented for death are, in order: Male 65+, Male 17-24, Female 10-16, Females over 65, Male 50-64.
    When serious injuries are included, the highest risk pedestrians in the past five years are, in order: Male 10-16, Male 17-24, Female 10-16, Male 0-9, Male over 65, Female over 65.
  9. Pedestrians can reduce their risk by following a few simple rules: always wear bright or reflective clothing to increase your visibility to drivers; footways or footpaths should be used if provided. Where possible, avoid being next to the kerb with your back to the traffic. If you have to step into the road, look both ways first. Always show due care and consideration for others. If there is no footway or footpath, walk on the right-hand side of the road so you can see oncoming traffic.
  10. Minister Attwood will launch a suite of new road safety messages addressing a range of issues on 12 January.
  11. For media enquiries please contact DOE Press Office tel. 028 9025 6058 or out of office hours, contact EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.