We all have a personal responsibility to improve road safety

Liz Kimmins, Minister for Infrastructure at the Department for Infrastructure, in the North of Ireland, says that we all have a personal responsibility to improve road safety

No one sets out on a journey thinking they will be involved in a road traffic collision, let alone lose their own life or end someone else’s life. Yet, on average, one person dies on our roads every single week. Last year in the North of Ireland, 56 people set off on what turned out to be their last journey and this year, so far, 31 people have died on our roads. Every one of those deaths is a tragedy. The loss occurs in an instant, but the devastation it causes lasts a lifetime for those left behind.

Road safety priorities in the North of Ireland

Road safety is of the utmost importance to me as Minister, and I remain firmly committed to ensuring that all road users can travel safely. I have taken a number of actions to improve road safety, and this year alone I have launched two major consultations with a view to introducing legislation that will help to save lives.

It is clear from the evidence that excessive speed remains one of the most significant factors in collisions and fatalities. Lower speed limits are proven to reduce fatalities and injuries, protect vulnerable road users, and create healthier communities. A public consultation on a Speed Limit Review to consider a range of options, including the introduction of further 20mph speed limits; a reduction of speed limits on rural roads; and aligning speed limits for HGVs with those in other regions with a view to reducing the risks associated with overtaking these types of vehicles, has recently closed. We are now carefully considering the responses and next steps.

Sadly, in recent years, tragic incidents involving children at bus stops have highlighted the risks that can arise when passengers are getting on or off buses. These moments present a period of particular vulnerability, especially where children may need to cross. I am determined to introduce legislation within this current mandate that can make a real difference for all our children and young people in the future. My SaferJourneys to School consultation is exploring whether clearer, more targeted rules could help reduce the risk.

There are two parts to our approach. The first sets out a legislative proposal to prohibit overtaking a stationary bus in clearly defined dangerous circumstances, focused on situations where passengers may be exposed to harm. The second part presents a number of options for further development designed to mitigate the risks associated with vehicles passing buses during boarding and alighting, including from the opposite direction. I will also bring forward a comprehensive package of measures focusing on education, engineering and enforcement to ensure children are safe travelling to and from school.

Other ongoing important work to improve road safety

These recent announcements are being progressed in tandem with other ongoing important work to improve road safety. Earlier this year, I launched my Department’s latest Road Safety Action Plan to 2027, which supports the ongoing work of the Road Safety Strategy. This action plan has been developed in collaboration with a wide range of road safety partners, including blue light organisations.

The Action Plan outlines specific steps and initiatives to be progressed until the end of March 2027. It includes a number of strategic interventions, acknowledged to be long-term policy developments and actions. Alongside our road safety partners, we focus on priority areas including, amongst others, policy and legislation, enforcement, communication and awareness.

One of the key actions of the plan, the introduction of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), will be introduced later this year. This is the most significant reform to driver licensing and testing in almost 70 years. The changes are aimed at young drivers who are sadly most likely to be killed or seriously injured on our roads.

The fundamental goal of learning to drive and the licensing process should be to create drivers and motorcyclists who are safe, and not just technically competent, by the time they are permitted to drive or ride unsupervised. The introduction of GDL plans to achieve this through a structured approach to learning to drive, including the completion of a Programme of Training and Logbook. This will better prepare drivers for both the driving test and the initial post-test driving period by helping learners understand how human factors, such as their attitude, personality, behaviour, and feelings, affect their driving style. GDL will be a valuable tool to help ensure everyone who uses our roads, does so safely.

Other key actions are the introduction of a lower legal alcohol limit, examining options for increasing speeding fines and the development of new scheme proposals on the Regional Strategic Transport Network targeting those routes with the highest collision rates where engineering-based solutions would mitigate risks.

Doing everything possible to make roads safer

I also allocated funding of almost £2 million to Road Safety Promotion in the 2025-26 year. In addition, the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership allocated £500,000 in sponsorship, bringing the total budget to almost £2.5 million. This budget funded the development of a suite of campaigns to address the main causations of road traffic collisions, including, hard hitting ads addressing speeding, driver behaviour, drug driving and safety around school buses. I recently committed further funding of £220,000 to relaunch three campaigns focusing on general driver behaviour and motorcyclist safety.

I will continue to do all I can to help make our roads safer. Together, we all share the responsibility for road safety. So, if you are driving, slow down, pay attention, look out for other road users, leave the mobile phone alone, always wear a seatbelt, and NEVER ever drink or take drugs and drive.