Road deaths in Northern Ireland.

[Naraic]

In 1972, with far fewer cars on the road, 372 people lost their lives on the roads of Northern Ireland.

This figure fell ever after. In 2009 107 people lost their lives which was good, but not as good as 2010 when the figure plummeted to 55. This disappointingly rose to 59 last year.

So far this year we have recorded the lowest ever quarterly figure...8 have died. This is a tragedy for the families and friends of each one...but is a remarkable drop. We haven't seen a double figure month since December 2009.

But why the big drop over the last 2.25 years? And are other regions experiencing similar?

 

[anyweb]

funny you mention this because i'm amazed at the sheer number of fatal car crashes in Ireland every year (all Ireland) it's like people are having head on car crashes every week

being Irish and reading online papers like http://www.independent.ie/ there's not a week goes by than theres some post about yet another fatal crash, i'm not imagining things am I ?

over here in Sweden i'm not seeing anything like this which either means they don't report it or it's just not happening

 

[Naraic]

The downward trend in Sweden in the last three years mirrors NI.

The Republic are only now starting to take a hard line on all aspects of road safety in an attempt to reduce the lamentable figures. Though, even there the lowest figures on record occurred in 2010, the same as NI. And 2011 was lower again. It does seem a trend in Ireland and Sweden. I think it could be the reduction in miles driven.

 

[cleverdicky]

Or fewer people left perhaps ...

 

[Rory]

It could be that there's not so many young people driving due to the cost of their insurance?

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Perhaps all the people who were destined to have a fatal accident have now had it?

 

[Dosco]

Perhaps all the people who were destined to have a fatal accident have now had it?

I still think there are a few 'waiting in the wings' if the behaviour of the first crop of 'fine weather drivers' on Saturday was anything to go by

 

[d215yq]

Perhaps people driving slower to reduce fuel costs and whilst this may not necessarily reduce the number of accidents that reduction from 70-60 or 60-50 probably makes a huge difference in the chances of survivability of those that do happen.