Environment Minister Alex Attwood today confirmed that there were 48 road deaths in Northern Ireland in 2012, the lowest in over 80 years since records began.
The figures released today by the PSNI are the lowest ever on record. Last year 59 people died. Up until 2010, when 55 people lost their lives on the road, the number of road deaths had never dropped below 100.
Alex Attwood said: “2012 has been an important milestone for road safety in Northern Ireland, but there are still 48 families who have lost a family member over the last 52 weeks. I extend sympathy to those families and friends who lost loved ones through road tragedy. In a week that has seen the death of a toddler in Dundonald; I know how painful the loss of each person will have been over the last year.
“This is the lowest death toll on record. The main causes of collisions continue to be speeding, drink driving and driver, rider and pedestrian carelessness. Many more men than women are killed. Child fatalities have increased in 2012.
“The figure confirms that road users are taking responsibility and lives have been saved as a result. This factor, the work of doctors and emergency services, better roads, stronger campaigns all make contributions to today’s news."
Mr Attwood added: “The next horizon is moving towards a vision of zero fatalities. This is some time off – but if we can move from hundreds to dozens of deaths a year, can we not move further? A zero ambition would require radical and bold action to deal with those issues and would include measures that I am already working towards – a new drink drive regime, a new driver training, testing and post-test regime, all Ireland recognition of penalty points are examples.”
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.
Mr Attwood added: “I continue to urge road users to pay attention, expect the unexpected, slow down, always wear your seatbelt and never ever drink or take drugs and drive. By doing so – here and across the island – lives are saved.”
Speaking about the figures, Head of Operations Branch, Superintendent Mark Purdon said: “One death is one too many and road safety remains and will remain a priority for the police throughout 2013.
“Although we saw a decrease in the number of road deaths in 2012 to the lowest level ever recorded in Northern Ireland, we can take little comfort in the fact that 48 people lost their lives on our roads.
“The pain of these avoidable deaths has touched family, friends and communities right across Northern Ireland and beyond. Each one of these victims represents a tragic loss for individual families and friends. We will be working hard to save more lives on our roads and prevent serious injuries. We are all responsible for road safety and today I am asking all drivers, passengers and pedestrians to help save lives in 2013.”
Notes to editors:
1. Provisional figures released today by PSNI show that in 2012 there was 48 deaths on Northern Ireland roads as a result of road traffic collisions.
2. In 1931 there were 114 road deaths and this number increased over the years before peaking in 1972 with 372 deaths. The number of road deaths then gradually reduced during the late 1970s and the 1980s before levelling off with around 150 deaths per year during the 1990s. Road deaths then decreased during the 2000s dropping from 148 fatalities in 2001 to 115 in 2009 before the numbers virtually halved in 2010 (55 fatalities) with similar numbers recorded in 2011 (59 fatalities). This latest figure of 48 deaths in 2012 would indicate that the annual level of road deaths continues to decrease.
3. Drivers of motor vehicles were the single largest casualty class from 1 January to 31 December 2012, accounting for 21 casualties killed. There were also 10 passengers, 9 pedestrians, 4 motorcyclists, 2 pedal cyclists and 2 other road users killed in road traffic collisions in 2012.
4. There were 5 child (under 16) fatalities recorded in 2012 compared with 2 child fatalities in 2011.
5. 14,570 people have lost their lives on NI roads since records began in 1931 and 74,275 have suffered serious injuries since serious injuries were first recorded in 1971. (The serious injuries figure does not include 2012 as this will not be confirmed until mid-2012 although it is expected to be several hundred).
6. Road user fatalities in 2012, by category, are as follows;
Pedestrian 9
Driver 21
Passenger 10
Pedal Cyclist 2
Motorcyclist 4
Pillion Passenger 0
Other Road User 2
TOTAL 48
7. Northern Ireland Road Deaths 2007-2011
Year - Total
2007 - 113
2008 - 107
2009 - 115
2010 - 55
2011 - 59
8. 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
2012 - 48
9. Some of the activities the Department of Environment has engaged in during 2012 include:
· A new suite of real-life accounts in the ‘Crashed Lives’ campaign was launched in January. These stories highlight our vulnerability on the roads and the lasting devastation of road tragedy.
· ‘Just Because’ pedestrian campaign was launched in May. Just over one in five deaths on Northern Ireland’s roads are pedestrians and as such, the campaign focuses on the vulnerability of pedestrians and the shared responsibility both drivers and pedestrians have to respect each other on the road. The message urges road users to “Respect Everyone’s Journey.”
· Launched in September ‘Excuses’ campaign highlights that over 95% of collisions where someone is killed or seriously injured are due to human error – not the roads, not the weather, not the vehicles, not the environment. Hence the campaign clearly states that crashes are not ‘accidents’. The campaign states ‘Kill the Excuses. It’s no Accident’.
· The anti drink drive ‘Hit Home’ campaign was developed into 3D format for cinema. Having road safety message in 3D is a first for anywhere in the European Union and second in the world, after Russia.
· The road safety forum continued to meet 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 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 NI, 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 2012. The Police have targeted resources towards rural areas and have continued their enforcement of speeding.
10. For media enquiries please contact the DOE Press Office telephone 028 9025 6058 or out of office hours, contact EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
The figures released today by the PSNI are the lowest ever on record. Last year 59 people died. Up until 2010, when 55 people lost their lives on the road, the number of road deaths had never dropped below 100.
Alex Attwood said: “2012 has been an important milestone for road safety in Northern Ireland, but there are still 48 families who have lost a family member over the last 52 weeks. I extend sympathy to those families and friends who lost loved ones through road tragedy. In a week that has seen the death of a toddler in Dundonald; I know how painful the loss of each person will have been over the last year.
“This is the lowest death toll on record. The main causes of collisions continue to be speeding, drink driving and driver, rider and pedestrian carelessness. Many more men than women are killed. Child fatalities have increased in 2012.
“The figure confirms that road users are taking responsibility and lives have been saved as a result. This factor, the work of doctors and emergency services, better roads, stronger campaigns all make contributions to today’s news."
Mr Attwood added: “The next horizon is moving towards a vision of zero fatalities. This is some time off – but if we can move from hundreds to dozens of deaths a year, can we not move further? A zero ambition would require radical and bold action to deal with those issues and would include measures that I am already working towards – a new drink drive regime, a new driver training, testing and post-test regime, all Ireland recognition of penalty points are examples.”
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.
Mr Attwood added: “I continue to urge road users to pay attention, expect the unexpected, slow down, always wear your seatbelt and never ever drink or take drugs and drive. By doing so – here and across the island – lives are saved.”
Speaking about the figures, Head of Operations Branch, Superintendent Mark Purdon said: “One death is one too many and road safety remains and will remain a priority for the police throughout 2013.
“Although we saw a decrease in the number of road deaths in 2012 to the lowest level ever recorded in Northern Ireland, we can take little comfort in the fact that 48 people lost their lives on our roads.
“The pain of these avoidable deaths has touched family, friends and communities right across Northern Ireland and beyond. Each one of these victims represents a tragic loss for individual families and friends. We will be working hard to save more lives on our roads and prevent serious injuries. We are all responsible for road safety and today I am asking all drivers, passengers and pedestrians to help save lives in 2013.”
Notes to editors:
1. Provisional figures released today by PSNI show that in 2012 there was 48 deaths on Northern Ireland roads as a result of road traffic collisions.
2. In 1931 there were 114 road deaths and this number increased over the years before peaking in 1972 with 372 deaths. The number of road deaths then gradually reduced during the late 1970s and the 1980s before levelling off with around 150 deaths per year during the 1990s. Road deaths then decreased during the 2000s dropping from 148 fatalities in 2001 to 115 in 2009 before the numbers virtually halved in 2010 (55 fatalities) with similar numbers recorded in 2011 (59 fatalities). This latest figure of 48 deaths in 2012 would indicate that the annual level of road deaths continues to decrease.
3. Drivers of motor vehicles were the single largest casualty class from 1 January to 31 December 2012, accounting for 21 casualties killed. There were also 10 passengers, 9 pedestrians, 4 motorcyclists, 2 pedal cyclists and 2 other road users killed in road traffic collisions in 2012.
4. There were 5 child (under 16) fatalities recorded in 2012 compared with 2 child fatalities in 2011.
5. 14,570 people have lost their lives on NI roads since records began in 1931 and 74,275 have suffered serious injuries since serious injuries were first recorded in 1971. (The serious injuries figure does not include 2012 as this will not be confirmed until mid-2012 although it is expected to be several hundred).
6. Road user fatalities in 2012, by category, are as follows;
Pedestrian 9
Driver 21
Passenger 10
Pedal Cyclist 2
Motorcyclist 4
Pillion Passenger 0
Other Road User 2
TOTAL 48
7. Northern Ireland Road Deaths 2007-2011
Year - Total
2007 - 113
2008 - 107
2009 - 115
2010 - 55
2011 - 59
8. 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
2012 - 48
9. Some of the activities the Department of Environment has engaged in during 2012 include:
· A new suite of real-life accounts in the ‘Crashed Lives’ campaign was launched in January. These stories highlight our vulnerability on the roads and the lasting devastation of road tragedy.
· ‘Just Because’ pedestrian campaign was launched in May. Just over one in five deaths on Northern Ireland’s roads are pedestrians and as such, the campaign focuses on the vulnerability of pedestrians and the shared responsibility both drivers and pedestrians have to respect each other on the road. The message urges road users to “Respect Everyone’s Journey.”
· Launched in September ‘Excuses’ campaign highlights that over 95% of collisions where someone is killed or seriously injured are due to human error – not the roads, not the weather, not the vehicles, not the environment. Hence the campaign clearly states that crashes are not ‘accidents’. The campaign states ‘Kill the Excuses. It’s no Accident’.
· The anti drink drive ‘Hit Home’ campaign was developed into 3D format for cinema. Having road safety message in 3D is a first for anywhere in the European Union and second in the world, after Russia.
· The road safety forum continued to meet 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 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 NI, 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 2012. The Police have targeted resources towards rural areas and have continued their enforcement of speeding.
10. For media enquiries please contact the DOE Press Office telephone 028 9025 6058 or out of office hours, contact EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
Story by DOE
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