Significant progress on Road Safety in 2007 must be maintained

12.15.00am GMT Tue 8th Jan 2008

Alliance Youth spokesperson Cllr Ian James Parsley

Alliance Youth spokesperson Ian James Parsley has said the progress on road safety in 2007 must be built on.

The North Down Councillor stated: "While it comes as little comfort to the many families who have suffered loss and injury on our roads, 2007 may go down as a year when we saw significant progress on the road safety issue for the future.

"Clearly we would hope that road fatality and casualty rates would be reduced everywhere, but it can be pointed out that figures for the past couple of years indicate Northern Ireland has made considerable progress proportionate to neighbouring jurisdictions. Our roads are now significantly safe than in most EU regions.

"Although it remains natural to complain about other drivers, there is real evidence now that most road users are taking road safety more seriously. The fact that casualty levels have reduced but public awareness has risen is no bad thing.

"Progress must be built on, however. The three key messages of education,engineering and enforcement remain central. There is still significant room for manoeuvre on behalf of the Executive, in improving driver training, road structures and policing.

"We still compare poorly with the rest of the UK, though the gap has closed. This indicates both that there is much work to do, and that we are capable of doing it. Our objective should be nothing less than to have Europe's safest roads."

ENDS