Last year 141 people were killed on the roads in Northern Ireland and 18 children were among the fatalities, according to provisional figures released yesterday by the North's Department of the Environment.
Of those killed, 92 were occupants of vehicles - 62 drivers and 30 passengers. The number of drivers killed increased by 10 on 1998 figures. There were fewer passenger deaths but eight child passengers were among those killed, the highest level in three years.
Thirty-nine pedestrians were killed on the roads, 10 of whom were children. A cyclist, seven motorcyclists and two pillion passengers were also killed. On New Year's Day a teenage girl became the first fatality of this year when she was killed on the Kilkeel to Newcastle road in Co Down.
The 1999 provisional figures, which do not include people who may die as a result of injuries, show a decrease of 19 fatalities on 1998. However, Mr Harry Green, the Chief Road Safety Officer of the Department of the Environment stressed yesterday that a single road death was one too many.
"Behind the cold statistics we have got to remember that 141 people lost their lives leaving bereaved families. There is no room for complacency and the department is determined to further reduce the level of fatal and serious casualties on our roads," Mr Green said.
The department has planned an anti-speed advertisement which will be launched within weeks and officials are confident their target to reduce road fatalities by one-third over this year will be achieved.
"Speed is still the main killer but alcohol consumption and the wearing of seat belts are also central issues among road users. Research in Northern Ireland shows that 23 more lives could be saved every year if everyone wore their seat belts," added Mr Green.
Meanwhile, the North's Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency has introduced a touch-screen system to replace the written part of the driving test. The new technology means learner drivers will receive their results before they leave the test centre.