Partnership working and honest conversations about what individuals can do to be safer are vital when it comes to reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on Northern Ireland’s roads, its infrastructure minister has said.
Speaking after she attended a meeting with the members of the Road Safety Strategic Forum at Newry Fire Station, Liz Kimmins said: “I have been impressed by the collaborative approach of the Forum, and by the passion demonstrated by its members as they seek to reduce the number of lives lost on our roads.”
The Forum involves collaboration between the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and other key stakeholders like the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), NI Ambulance Service, and NI Fire and Rescue Service.
The group aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by focusing on safe people, safe roads, and safe vehicles.
Minister Kimmins added: “The input of our first responder partners is invaluable because they are all too aware from an operational point of view of the horror that unfolds in the wake of a serious road traffic collision.
“I have also met with grieving families and have heard at first hand how their lives have been absolutely shattered by the sudden loss of a loved one who set out on a journey and did not return home. It is a loss that happens in a split second but a pain that lasts a lifetime.
“So far this year, 22 people have lost their lives on our roads and that is 22 too many. Road safety is a priority for me, and it is important that no stone is left unturned in the bid to reduce deaths and serious injuries.
“That is why as well as progressing Graduated Driver Licensing, I am looking at speed limits in urban areas and earlier this week I announced the latest tranche of 20mph limits at schools.
“A consultation about stricter laws on mobile phone usage in vehicles is currently open and I also have allocated money for advertising, including the RoadWise Up series and, more recently, the bus safety campaign.
“Sadly, the statistics show that the number one cause of fatal collisions is human error and that is why, as a society, we must all have honest conversations – not just with others, but with ourselves too – about what we can do as individuals to be safer when we are using the road. We can slow down, we can pay more attention, we can wear our seat belts and we can ignore our phones.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the Strategic Forum as they bring forward practical and innovative initiatives to address road safety issues.”
The group was established to address road safety issues and to support the NI Road Safety Strategy until 2030.
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