The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) attended 15 road accidents in a three hour period this morning – more than the average figure it would expect to attend over any 24 hour period.
One of these collisions, which occurred between 6.00am and 9.00am, resulted in the sixth fatality on the North’s roads since the turn of the year. A 44-year-old man died in a single vehicle collision at 6.20am in Co Down.
An NIAS apokesperson said the figures are of “great concern” to all with an interest in road safety and were a “stark reminder” to us all not to take for ganted anything in terms of road safety.
The spokesperson added: “It is true that the numbers of people being killed on our roads has reduced dramatically over recent years, but still we need to exercise caution on our roads – road safety is everyones responsibilty.
“We have been asked what caused these RTCs – was it the weather? While it is true that icy conditions may have been prevelant this morning, it is always the driver’s responsibilty to drive in a manner and at a speed which is appropriate to road conditions.
The spokesperson concluded: “No one sets out to be involved in a RTC, but still NIAS attends over 4,500 each year. These figures, and the injuries that result from them, could be reduced if drivers didn’t allow themselves to be distracted, drove with care and didn’t speed. Injuries sustained by those who may be unfortunate enough to be involved in a RTC, would not be as serious if everyone wore a seatbelt.”
The NIAS concerns come 24 hours ahead of a special meeting of the Road Safety Council, which includes government agencies, the PSNI and other emergency services.
The meeting has been convened by Environment Minister Durkan after five deaths since the start of the New Year.
The worrying increase in road deaths has prompted alarm from the PSNI and the Catholic clergy, who have appealed for greater care on the roads.
PSNI Supt David Moore said: “We’ve had someone dying on our roads every 48 hours in the early days of 2014. That’s a month’s worth of carnage in a little over a week and five families torn apart.”
He added: “Five deaths already is far too much and we need the collective efforts of everyone in Northern Ireland to bring this to an end now.”
Two more fatalities were recorded at the weekend. They include a 58-year-old man who died in a collision in Armagh on Friday, while a 22-year-old man was killed in an incident in Dunmurry, near Belfast.
The Catholic Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh appealed for more care to be demonstrated by road users.
Preaching yesterday in Armagh Dr Eamon Martin said: “Tragically 246 people were killed on the roads of Ireland, North and South during 2013. Already, in the first 10 days of 2014, five people have been killed on the roads of Northern Ireland and the PSNI say this is more than the total for the whole of January last year.”
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