Rise in rural road deaths in Northern Ireland 'cause for serious concern'
An MLA has expressed concern after a 57% rise in rural road deaths in Northern Ireland within the space of a year.
West Tyrone MLA, Daniel McCrossan, said the issue is "cause for serious concern" after the Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy’s Annual Statistical Report showed a rise in rural road deaths.
There were 47 people killed on rural roads in 2023, up from 30 in 2022. The MLA has called for greater action to combat reduce crashes on our roads, including awareness campaigns and upgrades to roads including the A5.
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Mr McCrossan said: "This large increase in deaths on rural roads is cause for serious concern and demands a response from the Infrastructure Minister and his department. As an MLA in a rural area I am all too aware of the many families who have lost loved ones on our roads and every single one of these deaths is a tragedy.
"Given this increase I believe that the Minister has a duty to dial down into these figures to try and understand exactly why we have seen an increase of this magnitude and to put plans in place to reduce these numbers. From awareness campaigns to additional safety works, there are steps we can take to reduce injuries on our roads and while the department faces a tough budget situation doing nothing in response to this isn’t an option.
"Nowhere is the need for improved road safety felt more keenly than in my constituency where so many people have been killed while travelling along the A5. This is just one example of the transformational work that could be done to reduce deaths in rural areas. Nobody should face an increased risk of death or injury simply because of where they live or work and I will continue to press the Minister on this."
The annual report from the Department for Infrastrucutre's Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy, published on September 19, shows that fatalities in road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland increased 29% from 2022 to 2023, with 71 fatalities recorded in 2023.
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