Lowest NI road death toll since 1952

Road fatality figures are on the increase in the Republic - but are falling to historic lows in Northern Ireland. However, the numbers of people being arrested for drink-driving as part of the annual Christmas crackdown are rising in both jurisdictions.

According to provisional figures released by the Garda, the number of people killed in collisions on the Republic's roads rose in 2005, for the second year in succession, to 399.

The PSNI reported the number killed on Northern Ireland's roads at 136 - the lowest level in more than half a century. The number of vehicles in the North increased more than eightfold in the period in question - 1952 to 2005.

Kevin Clinton of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents attributed the reduction in the North to the North's road safety strategy.

He described the figures as "really good news" and said: "We are confident that this excellent trend will continue if everyone goes on playing their part."

Drink-driving arrest levels were not so encouraging.

Final figures for the Christmas campaign revealed 552 motorists were detected for drink-driving in the North. The figure is 23 higher than the similar period last year (November 22nd to January 2nd).

The detections included motorists who were unfit to drive or unable or unwilling to give a sample.

In the Republic, the Garda arrested 1,297 motorists on suspicion of drink-driving since the campaign began on November 27th. This is an increase of almost 14 per cent on the same period last year. The operation continues until this weekend.

Acting chief inspector with the PSNI Rosie Leech, of the road policing development branch, attributed the increased number of arrests in the North to determination by the police.

"The fact that we detected 23 more drink-drivers during this winter's campaign reflects that determination," she said. "It is an all-year-round priority for us."

In a further breakdown of the figures provided by the PSNI, it was revealed that 495 of the 552 drivers detected were men.

A similar breakdown of figures in the Republic was not available yesterday.

The Christmas campaign was supported by television, cinema and newspaper advertisements on both sides of the Border. Under the title "Just One", they reflect that just one drink will impair judgment.