Ending road carnage must be top political priority - Campbell

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Apr 2006

Newtownabbey Alliance Councillor Tom Campbell has expressed concern at the rising toll of deaths and serious injuries arising from road traffic accidents in Northern Ireland, following yet another fatal accident in which two men were killed when their van left the Hydepark Road in the Mallusk area.

Councillor Campbell who represents the local area in Council stated: "This is a tragedy for the families involved and my sympathies go out to them at this difficult time. This accident is still under investigation and the circumstances in which this vehicle left the road are not yet known but in general there is a concern that speed and carelessness are significant factors."

"In a recent accident in this area serious injuries were caused to a woman who was not apparently wearing a safety belt. Given the fact that these deaths bring to 42 the number of people killed on our roads in a three month period from the start of this year, greater priority must be given to ensuring traffic Police are visible and in a position to take effective action to cut the carnage on the roads."

ENDS