07/07/2023
Road Safety Warning Amid Increase In Careless Driving Deaths
New statistics have revealed that 57% of people killed or seriously injured on NI roads in 2021 were the result of careless driving.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has highlighted a steady increase in the number of careless driving deaths each year and has called on road users to 'redouble efforts to travel with due care and attention'.
The Department is responsible for road safety and last October the draft Road Safety Strategy to 2030 was published. This strategy contains a renewed focus to make our roads safer for all. The Department also recently introduced a new fixed penalty notice of £100 and three penalty points to specifically help tackle careless driving.
Making their road safety appeal, the Dept for Infrastructure said: "The evidence shows that more than 95% of road traffic collisions, where someone is killed or seriously injured, is due to human error such as a choice to speed, drink or drug driving or driving carelessly or while distracted. People driving or riding carelessly is the cause behind the majority of deaths and serious injuries on our roads here.
"Most collisions are avoidable. Careless driving is made up of many behaviours including inattention or distraction, wrong course position and driving too close amongst others and is the biggest cause of deaths and serious injuries.
"As we use the roads as drivers and riders, we need to be extra vigilant – pay attention to our surroundings, ignore in-car distractions, give extra consideration to more vulnerable people, such as those who walk or ride and children and older road users. Every one of us has a role to play in preventing deaths and injuries on our roads. Just as with speeding, drink or drug driving or failure to wear your seatbelt, if you drive carelessly, you run the very real risk of killing or seriously injuring yourself, your passengers or some other innocent road user.
"As part of the Road Safety Strategy, the Department invites people to support 'Share the Road to Zero', which encourages all citizens to take a road safety pledge to be the best road users they can to help reduce road deaths. Signing up is easy, it's quick and it's free, and you can do so by clicking here ShareTheRoadToZero.com."
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has highlighted a steady increase in the number of careless driving deaths each year and has called on road users to 'redouble efforts to travel with due care and attention'.
The Department is responsible for road safety and last October the draft Road Safety Strategy to 2030 was published. This strategy contains a renewed focus to make our roads safer for all. The Department also recently introduced a new fixed penalty notice of £100 and three penalty points to specifically help tackle careless driving.
Making their road safety appeal, the Dept for Infrastructure said: "The evidence shows that more than 95% of road traffic collisions, where someone is killed or seriously injured, is due to human error such as a choice to speed, drink or drug driving or driving carelessly or while distracted. People driving or riding carelessly is the cause behind the majority of deaths and serious injuries on our roads here.
"Most collisions are avoidable. Careless driving is made up of many behaviours including inattention or distraction, wrong course position and driving too close amongst others and is the biggest cause of deaths and serious injuries.
"As we use the roads as drivers and riders, we need to be extra vigilant – pay attention to our surroundings, ignore in-car distractions, give extra consideration to more vulnerable people, such as those who walk or ride and children and older road users. Every one of us has a role to play in preventing deaths and injuries on our roads. Just as with speeding, drink or drug driving or failure to wear your seatbelt, if you drive carelessly, you run the very real risk of killing or seriously injuring yourself, your passengers or some other innocent road user.
"As part of the Road Safety Strategy, the Department invites people to support 'Share the Road to Zero', which encourages all citizens to take a road safety pledge to be the best road users they can to help reduce road deaths. Signing up is easy, it's quick and it's free, and you can do so by clicking here ShareTheRoadToZero.com."
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