Partnership working and honest conversations about what we can
all do as individuals to be safer are vital if we are to reduce
the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, has said.
Speaking after she attended a meeting with the members of the
Road Safety Strategic Forum at Newry Fire Station, the
Infrastructure Minister 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 No.1 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
phone.
“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
support the NI Road Safety Strategy to 2030.
