THE year was less than three hours old when a 19-year-old man died in a traffic collision near Maghera which also left a woman and two teenage boys needing hospital treatment.
It was a terrible start to a new decade when it is essential that all road users are acutely aware of the risks they face during every single journey.
There can only be enormous concern that more than 200 people – an average of almost four each week – lost their lives on Ireland’s roads, north and south, during the course of 2019.
The total for the Republic rose to 148, an increase of six on the previous year, and it will be noted that, while pedestrian and passenger deaths declined, the figure for drivers was up by an alarming 25.
Northern Ireland’s death toll was unchanged year-on-year at 55, following a downward trend since 79 fatalities were recorded in 2014. The number of northern drivers killed has been dropping over the same period, indicating that, in percentage terms, pedestrians are under more threat than in the south.
It is also abundantly clear that, across the north, a disproportionate level of fatal accidents consistently occur in rural districts.
Regardless of how the statistics are broken down, every death and serious injury on our roads represents a tragedy of enormous proportions.
What is deeply disturbing is that, on the basis of all the available evidence, increased awareness and common sense on the part of road users would mean that many appalling accidents would simply never happen.
Police have stressed that general carelessness, excessive speed for the conditions and driving after taking alcohol or drugs are still the main overall causes when death and serious injuries take place. These are all factors which are completely capable of being addressed, and the new decade provides an ideal opportunity for every road user to reflect on the possible consequences of their own actions. If pedestrians consider the need to be seen, motorists remember to keep their speed within reasonable limits and everyone takes a responsible attitude towards drink and drugs, the number of accidents will drop significantly.
We all have a duty to play a full part in keeping death off our roads during 2020 and beyond.
