Derry/Strabane had lowest rate of serious road traffic collisions
Derry and Strabane had the lowest rate of serious road traffic collisions in which people were killed or seriously injured (KSI) in 2024, new statistics have shown.
A new Department for Infrastructure report states that the majority of serious accidents occurred in the east of the province, with a large cluster in and around Belfast.
There were also, however, clear clusters around other towns and cities, including Derry and Newry and on main roads.
"Derry and Strabane Local Government District (LGD) has the lowest rate of KSI casualties per population count (39.4) followed by Ards & North Down LGD with 41.7.
"In contrast, Newry, Mourne & Down LGD and Causeway Coast and Glens LGD, have the highest rates of KSI casualties per population (77.0 and 71.1, respectively). This highlights the increased casualty risk on less densely populated, often rural roads where speed limits tend to be higher than in urban areas,” the new report states.
The Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy (NIRSS) to 2030 Annual Statistical Report 2025 shows that across the North there were 56 fatalities in road traffic collisions in 2025. This represents a decrease of 17 per cent from the strategy baseline figure (68), and a decrease of 19 per cent from 2024 (69).
There were 1,066 people seriously injured (SI) in road traffic collisions in 2025. This represents an increase of 42 per cent from the strategy baseline figure (751), and an increase of 14 per cent from 2024 (939).
There were 115 Children (aged 0 to 15) killed or seriously injured (KSIs) in road traffic collisions in 2025. This represents an increase of 62 per cent from the strategy baseline figure (71), and an increase of 24 per cent from 2024 (93).
There were 227 young people (aged 16 to 24) KSIs in road traffic collisions in 2025. This represents an increase of 16 per cent from the strategy baseline figure (196), and an increase of 10 per cent from 2024 (207).
In 2025 car users had the lowest rate of KSIs per kilometres travelled (4 KSIs per 100 million kilometres travelled by car or van) compared to the other road user groups and hence considered at less risk.
Motorcyclists had the greatest rate (344 motorcyclist KSIs pre 100 million kilometres travelled by motorcycle), with the rates for pedal cyclists (63 pedal cyclist KSIs per 100 million kilometres cycled) and pedestrians (41 KSIs per 100 million kilometres walked) being in between.
People over the age of 70 had 57 KSIs per 100,000 population. This rate is 13 per cent above that recorded in 2024 and is 35 per cent above the baseline figure of 42.
There were 43 people killed in collisions on rural roads. The numbers recorded in 2025 are down 10 per cent on 2024 (48). Fatalities on rural roads are now 2 per cent below the baseline figure of 44.
There were nine people killed in road traffic collisions where alcohol or drugs was attributed. This is 7 fewer than the 16 recorded in 2024. The number in 2025 is 48 per cent below the baseline level of 17.