Northern Ireland motorists have been told to "wise up and shape up" today ain the wake of a spate of road fatalities. Already this year 15 people have died on the roads - four in the last 24 hours - compared with four during the first three weeks of last January.
Ms Angela Smith, minister responsible for Environment, said she was frustrated that despite all the measures Government had introduced, the level of road carnage remained unacceptable.
But she said there was only so much the authorities could do. "Ninety five per cent of serious collisions and deaths are down to driver error, passenger error, pedestrians stepping out in front of vehicles.
"It is people who need to change. People need to wise up and shape up and be more careful on the road."
She also said motorists should inform on others. Ms Smith said in cases of road rage where a driver was tailgating another and flashing lights, the car in front should "pull over and stop, let the other vehicle get past and, if you get the number, report it to the police."
Chief Inspector Mark Gilmore of the PSNI traffic branch, said there needed to be a whole culture and attitude change. "People need to slow down, wise up and change their attitude. If we can change attitudes and change the culture we will reduce road deaths and injuries."
He had been "horrified" at a 10% increase in drunk drivers detected during the recent police Christmas and New Year campaign . He said it reflected an attitude that such action was somehow acceptable.
People needed to think sensibly and take ownership of the problems on the roads.
Chief Inspector Gilmore said that a new network of 20 speed cameras would be installed in Northern Ireland by the summer. Money raised from fines would be re-invested in the fight to reduce road deaths.
Two more people died overnight, one in an accident and the other in hospital from injuries received in a crash last month.
A young man was killed when his car left the road at Glarryford Cross on a dual carriageway outside Ballymena, Co Antrim said police.
Striking firefighters left their picket line in the town to go to the scene which was also attended by soldiers with a yellow Goddess.
The second death was of Mr Tom McClurg (46) from Ballymacormick Drive, Bangor, Co Down. He was injured in a road accident in Downpatrick in December.
The latest deaths follow those of two teenagers who died when a people carrier left the M5 motorway outside north Belfast and ended up on its side on the shore of Belfast Lough yesterday.
Four women injured in the accident remain in hospital.
PA