§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the loss of life on the roads of Ulster during the first three months of 1972; how these figures compare with previous years; and what steps he now proposes to take to deal with this problem.
§ Mr. ChannonThe number of persons killed as the result of road accidents in Northern Ireland during the first quarter of 1972 and the corresponding period in four previous years is as follows:
Killed 1968 (first quarter) … … … 56 1969 (first quarter) … … … 56 1970 (first quarter) … … … 57 1971 (first quarter) … … … 55 1972 (first quarter) … … … 91 The above figures include fatal accidents to children, which decreased in the first quarter of 1972, as compared with the previous year. As part of a continuing programme of road safety education and publicity, it is intended to spend approximately £60,000 in the current year's campaign, which will concentrate on the subjects of overtaking, pedestrian safety and the wearing of seat belts. The latter could 380W conceivably make the greatest single contribution to a reduction in fatal and serious injuries.