Make road safety your New Year resolution

The Environment Minister has urged everyone to make the reduction of deaths and serious injuries on our roads their New Year Resolution.

As 2014 drew to a close, 79 people lost their lives during the year, 22 more people than 2013.

Mark H Durkan said, “The New Year is a time for resolutions and commitments. We are all road users. Let us all therefore commit to playing our part on the road to zero road deaths. Too often, we take a risk and make the wrong choice. Is that risk worth a life?”

Road traffic collisions are unexpected, traumatic events, occurring in a moment but with consequences enduring for a lifetime.

The Minister said, “The number of road fatalities and serious injuries over the past year is a serious concern. I extend my sympathy to those who have lost loved ones and those who have suffered life changing injuries.

“Every death is tragic and will have brought enormous suffering to families, friends and communities. I say again today, any death is one too many, lets make 2015 a better year on our roads.”

Outlining his own commitment for the year ahead the Minister said, “I am personally committed to continuing work with my Executive colleagues and the PSNI to improve road safety.

“This will be challenging given the very difficult financial position set out in the Executive’s draft budget. My Department will have less money for road safety advertising and other budgets will also be stretched. But I will continue to make Road Safety a high priority,” he added.

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Posted by Newry Times News on Jan 9 2015. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry