TOO many people are being killed or seriously injured on roads, police have said.
The release of provisional figures by the PSNI yesterday showed that 54 people died in road tragedies during 2019.
It is the fifth consecutive year that the number of deaths has fallen.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said many collisions could be avoided.
"Not paying full attention, poor positioning on the road, excess speed for the conditions and people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs remain the most common causes of the most serious collisions which kill and injure people," he said.
"We all share the responsibility for road safety. So if you are driving, slow down; pay greater attention to your surroundings and look out for other road users; leave the mobile phone alone; always wear a seatbelt and never ever drink or take drugs and drive."
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said everyone had responsibility to safeguard their own safety and that of others.
"While in overall terms, road deaths have fallen for the fifth consecutive year, the statistics mask the simple truth that every serious road traffic collision brings life-long consequences for families," said DfI Permanent Secretary Katrina Godfrey.
"The majority of people are now doing the right things resulting in 2019 having the second lowest road deaths since records began in 1931. Evidence shows that most road deaths are avoidable, as more than nine in 10 deaths and serious injuries are due to human error.
"If we all take that extra second on our journey to consider our actions as we drive, ride or walk, we could see a further reduction in the number of people being killed or seriously injured."
