The number of people killed on Northern Ireland's roads has dropped to its lowest level in more than half a century, it was announced today.
The last year saw a total of 136 deaths, the smallest number since 1952 when 133 were killed.
The number of vehicles on the roads has increased nearly eightfold in the intervening period. Back in 1952 there were just 117,000 vehicles in Northern Ireland - last year there were just short of 900,000.
Kevin Clinton of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: "This is really good news and is testament to the work of the Department of the Environment and its roads safety strategy.
"We are confident this excellent trend will continue if everyone goes on playing their part."
The British minister for the environment, Lord Rooker, welcomed the figures, but he said: "Let's be clear, this is a significant milestone, but nothing more."
He added the figures showed there was still a long way to go.
"The figures highlight an encouraging reduction in the number of passengers and motorcycle fatalities, but of the 136 killed on the roads in 2005 almost 70 per cent were drivers and pedestrians," said Lord Rooker.
PA