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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| New drivers may face night curfew | New drivers may face night curfew |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The environment minister has said he is considering introducing a night-time curfew on newly qualified drivers in an effort to prevent road deaths. | The environment minister has said he is considering introducing a night-time curfew on newly qualified drivers in an effort to prevent road deaths. |
| Edwin Poots made the announcement after the latest figures revealed that 115 people were killed on NI's roads in 2009 - eight more than in 2008. | Edwin Poots made the announcement after the latest figures revealed that 115 people were killed on NI's roads in 2009 - eight more than in 2008. |
| Mr Poots said he was also considering restricting the number of passengers new drivers could carry in vehicles. | Mr Poots said he was also considering restricting the number of passengers new drivers could carry in vehicles. |
| "These are all things that we are contemplating," he said. | "These are all things that we are contemplating," he said. |
| "But in Northern Ireland we have a democracy, so we have to go out and consult the public on these issues." | "But in Northern Ireland we have a democracy, so we have to go out and consult the public on these issues." |
| In 2008, the Assembly voted to begin consultation on such a curfew as part of a graduated driver licensing scheme. | |
| Mr Poots said the number of people killed on Northern Ireland's roads was "disheartening". | Mr Poots said the number of people killed on Northern Ireland's roads was "disheartening". |
| "The tragedy is that 115 people just like you and me were going about their normal business, presumably with hope, ambition and enthusiasm," he said. | "The tragedy is that 115 people just like you and me were going about their normal business, presumably with hope, ambition and enthusiasm," he said. |
| "But they didn't get the chance to fulfil their ambitions. | "But they didn't get the chance to fulfil their ambitions. |
| "We will continue our sustained efforts to deliver a programme of road safety education, engineering and enforcement initiatives." | "We will continue our sustained efforts to deliver a programme of road safety education, engineering and enforcement initiatives." |
| Downward trend | Downward trend |
| Of those that died in 2009, four were children. | Of those that died in 2009, four were children. |
| Twenty four of the 115 were pedestrians, 46 were drivers, 29 were passengers and 16 were motorcyclists. | Twenty four of the 115 were pedestrians, 46 were drivers, 29 were passengers and 16 were motorcyclists. |
| "There are still too many people dying needlessly on our roads," continued the minister. | "There are still too many people dying needlessly on our roads," continued the minister. |
| "We will only see a further reduction in the number of people being killed if we all, whether as drivers, passengers or pedestrians, assume personal responsibility for our own safety and the safety of others." | "We will only see a further reduction in the number of people being killed if we all, whether as drivers, passengers or pedestrians, assume personal responsibility for our own safety and the safety of others." |
| Northern Ireland has traditionally had a poor road safety record with its rates of deaths and injuries per 100,000 of the population significantly above the rest of the UK. | Northern Ireland has traditionally had a poor road safety record with its rates of deaths and injuries per 100,000 of the population significantly above the rest of the UK. |
| However, in the last ten years the situation has improved with road deaths on a downward trend. | However, in the last ten years the situation has improved with road deaths on a downward trend. |
| In 2000, 171 people were killed on the roads; the 107 deaths in 2008 was the lowest figure on record. | In 2000, 171 people were killed on the roads; the 107 deaths in 2008 was the lowest figure on record. |