As Road Safety Week gets underway across the UK, ASCERT, Northern Ireland’s leading alcohol, drug-related and mental health charity, is reminding everyone that the safest choice behind the wheel is to never drink and drive.
This year’s Road Safety Week theme, “Safe vehicles save lives,” highlights how well-maintained vehicles and responsible driving are key to preventing crashes on our roads. Every year, lives are lost and families are changed forever due to avoidable collisions, and alcohol remains a significant factor in many of them.
According to the Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy (NIRSS) to 2030 Annual Statistical Report, 69 people were killed on Northern Ireland’s roads in 2024. Of these, 16 fatalities happened in crashes where alcohol or drugs were recorded as a contributing factor.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health’s Health Survey (NI) 2022/23 found that 77% of adults in Northern Ireland drink alcohol, with a quarter of men and one in ten women regularly exceeding recommended weekly limits. With alcohol such a common part of social life, ASCERT is urging everyone to plan ahead this Road Safety Week, by arranging a lift, booking a taxi, or designating a sober driver before heading out.
Gary McMichael, Chief Executive of ASCERT, said:
“Every life lost on our roads is a preventable tragedy. Alcohol and drugs can seriously impair your judgement, reaction times, and coordination, making even short journeys dangerous. We’re asking everyone to take personal responsibility this Road Safety Week. The only safe approach is to never, ever drink and drive.”
ASCERT provides a range of free, confidential services to support to individuals, families, and workplaces across Northern Ireland. These include alcohol and drug information, early intervention programmes, and education sessions to raise awareness about the impact of substance use on safety and wellbeing.
McMichael added:
“At ASCERT, we’re committed to creating a society where people are protected from the harm caused by alcohol and drugs. Road safety starts with each of us making safer choices, for ourselves, our passengers, and everyone sharing the road.”
Road Safety Week is coordinated nationally by Brake, the road safety charity, and supported locally by ASCERT and other organisations working to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Northern Ireland’s roads. Together, their message is clear: safe vehicles and sober drivers save lives.
For more information on ASCERT’s services or to arrange an alcohol awareness session for your workplace, visit www.ascert.biz.