Minister shocked by weekend's road deaths

Environment Minister Edwin Poots this morning expressed his shock and concern at the toll of road deaths over the weekend.

Five people died and a number of others were injured in a series of crashes across Northern Ireland on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr Poots said: “Our deepest sympathy goes out to the families and friends of those who have so tragically lost their lives on our roads over the past two days, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured.”

In one crash, on the Tandragee Road near Newry, four young Portuguese men died and a fifth was injured, while a motorcyclist injured in a collision with a van in County Tyrone on Saturday has also died.

Five people were injured, two seriously, in two earlier collisions over the weekend. A woman was seriously injured by a lorry on Victoria Road in Londonderry on Saturday night, and two men and two women were hurt in a crash at Tempo in County Fermanagh on Sunday.

The Minister said that the deaths and injuries were a reminder to everyone about the vital importance of getting the road safety message across to every road user.

He said: “If you look back over the past number of years you can see that road deaths have been coming down. However, the events of the weekend show how quickly disaster can strike, and how important it is that our efforts to end the carnage should continue.”

Mr Poots highlighted the current roads safety measures that his Department currently have in progress:

The Minister said: “Over the past few months we have launched four major new advertising campaigns and public consultations have recently been completed on lowering the drink driving limit and on changes to the way learner drivers are trained and tested. We are also working hard on a new road safety strategy for Northern Ireland, which we plan to publish in next year, two years ahead of schedule.”

So far this year 78 people have died on Northern Ireland's roads compared with 73 for the same period last year.

Mr Poots concluded: “I would urge everyone to slow down, pay careful attention to what is happening on the road ahead and around you, wear your seatbelt and never drink or take drugs if there is any chance that you will be driving.”

Notes to Editors:

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