Issued just before Christmas, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) released statistics aimed at dissuading drink drivers and preventing road traffic accidents. Now that the provisional stats from 2024 are live, data suggests that deaths on NI roads may be an alarming upward trend.
The grim statistics included surprising results which prompted a harsh warning for all drivers. If you drink drive, you could kill someone – and that includes yourself.
Surprising Results Included in the December 2024 RTA Stats
The statistics revealed the numbers on Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) in Northern Ireland with regards to collision figures, drink-drivers arrested, and annual deaths across the region.
PSNI December and January RTA Figures Revealed:
- 71 people died on Northern Irish roads in 2023.
- Between 2019 and 2023 roughly 4,000 people have died on NI roads.
- 192 of the deaths/serious injuries caused in 2023 were by young drivers aged between 16 and 24.
- In 2024 12 passengers died in vehicle collisions.
- 7 Motorcyclists similarly lost their lives on the roads – a figure dropped from 13 in the previous year.
- South Area Policing had the highest number of fatalities in 2024. Provisional figures reveal that 40 people died in this region last year.
With such grim statistics regarding loss of life on NI roads, it is no wonder that the police are offering warnings. You can read the full list of stats for yourself over on the PSNI website. We found this page particularly helpful.
Analysing the Data
The death rate for 2023 was the highest it had been in 8 years, with 2024 hot on its heels. In a BBC interview PSNI noted that they had not seen figures this high since pre-Covid.
In response to the oncoming threat of drink-driving over the festive period, PSNI had an increased presence on the streets. During the first two weeks of December, they reported that 132 motorists had been arrested for drink driving. With the winter drink driving campaign in full swing, a PSNI spokesperson said that “operation season’s greetings” was a high-visibility success.
In the case of drunk drivers prevention is better than cure. Especially with thousands of pedestrians, cyclists, bikers, drivers, and passengers suffering serious personal injuries on the roads each year.
RTA Related Personal Injury Cases on the Rise
As a result of the growing number of traffic accidents, Northern Ireland is also experiencing growth in the personal injury compensation claim industry. If you are injured in a road traffic accident and it wasn’t your fault, then you could claim compensation to cover the cost of your injuries. This industry protects road users from falling victim to low settlement offers from big insurance companies involved in the accidents.
If you have suffered through an RTA in NI then seeking legal help for your accident is essential. Not only can you seek compensation for your damaged property and your personal suffering, but this can be a financial tool to cover your loss of earnings due to the accident. Seeking legal representation could even prevent your mistreatment from happening to another person… as is often the case with drunk drivers.