DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, who chairs the Assembly Infrastructure Committee, has said figures released today outlining the number of lives lost on Northern Ireland’s roads should provoke a more co-ordinated approach to making our roads safer.
The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said:
“These statistics make for sobering reading. Between 2019 and 2023, 297 people were either killed or seriously injured as a result of speeding on our roads. Behind each of these figures is a family left grieving or a person living with life-altering injuries. My thoughts are with all those who have suffered loss or trauma.
Of particular concern is that young people aged 16–24 accounted for over two-fifths of these serious casualties, and that males were responsible for more than three-quarters of all speeding related collisions that resulted in death or serious injury. We must ask serious questions about driving culture, education, and enforcement, especially among younger drivers. It is also worrying that 70% of these incidents took place on rural roads, and nearly 40% happened during the weekend, particularly between 4pm and 10pm. These trends cannot be ignored and will require a targeted approach.
As Chair of the Infrastructure Committee, I am calling for greater urgency and coordination between the Minister and all stakeholders, including the PSNI.
Tackling speeding must be a strategic priority, not just a policing issue, with a cross-departmental approach, involving education and enforcement. One death on our roads is one too many.
There is a role for all of us. Slowing down, staying alert, and respecting other road users are basic responsibilities that save lives. We need to change attitudes, especially among those who see speed as a measure of confidence or skill. It isn’t – it is a killer.”