The number of people killed on Northern Ireland's roads has reached its lowest level in over 30 years.
There were 125 deaths in 2006 including a spate of tragedies over Christmas when five people died. Totals have been on a downward trend since 1972 but the North's road safety minister David Cairns warned many young people still drove like they were indestructible.
"Each death on our roads is needless and tragic. I find it particularly sad that 34 young people, under the age of 21 died on our roads in 2006. An immeasurable loss to families and to society," he said.
"Some young people drive as if they are indestructible. I have a vital New Year message for all road users — speeding kills, drinking and driving kills, not wearing a seatbelt kills and not paying attention kills."
Last year's tally was ten fewer than in 2005. The highest recorded total was in 1972 with 372. In 2006 there were 21 pedestrians, 46 drivers and 43 passengers killed.
There were 14 motorcyclists. Last month Seamus Griffin (58) from Oriel Road in Antrim died after being knocked off his bike by a white Audi car on the Randalstown Road.
The car was later found abandoned. Four men who were arrested over the incident have since been released. A teenager injured in a road traffic accident in east Belfast two days before Christmas died of his injuries. David Heaslip (18) of Ballymiscaw Road, Holywood, was in an accident on the Belmont Road.
Another three young children were left critically ill in hospital after road accidents. They include a 10-year-old boy who was knocked down by two cars while walking on Lurgan's Lough Road. A man was arrested. Matthew Dagens, 15, died on Saturday after being struck by a car at Downpatrick on December 22nd.
James McGuigan (30) and his daughter, Lorna, eight, died in an accident near Crumlin, also on December 22nd.
Mr McGuigan's two other daughters were also injured in the accident. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Roy Toner said: "Although we saw a decrease in the number of road deaths in 2006 we can take little comfort in the fact that 125 people lost their lives on our roads.
"The pain of these avoidable deaths has touched family, friends and communities right across Northern Ireland and beyond. "Each one of these victims represents a tragic loss for individual families and friends."