§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were(a) killed and (b) injured in road accidents in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [37967]
§ Sir John WheelerThe information is as follows:660W
661W
Persons killed Persons injured Serious Slight 1990 185 11,576 1,993 9,583 1991 185 10,129 1,648 8,481
Persons killed Persons injured Serious Slight 1992 150 11,114 1,841 9,273 1993 143 10,957 1,725 9,232 1994 157 11,937 1,648 10,289 The Government's target to reduce the total number of people killed and seriously injured on Northern Ireland's roads by one third by the year 2000 compared with the baseline 1981–85 average' is identified in the recently published road safety plan for Northern Ireland, to which the RUC is a signatory. This target has been universally accepted and is a focus for organisations and individuals involved in road safety.
The current trend in deaths and serious injuries would indicate that this target is in line to be accomplished through a continuance of the multi-agency approach to road safety education and with the full support and determination of the community.
The RUC will continue to provide a substantial, sustained and co-ordinated effort, involving road safety education and enforcement of more serious road traffic offences, to address accident causes and trends. Resources will be deployed towards a number of identified priority areas: speed, reckless/careless driving, drinking and driving, young drivers, pedestrians and child safety.
Note:
1 The baseline 1981–1985 average for fatal and serious casualties is 2362. The target, to be reached by the year 2000, is 1575.