To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail (i) any action she is taking to reduce the number of vulnerable road users killed or seriously injured; and (ii) any measures targeting pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, including how they are prioritised and evaluated.

The Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2030 includes several targets aimed at reducing the number of vulnerable road users killed or seriously injured. The strategy was prepared following consultations with several key stake holders including the Motorcycle Action Group - UK (MAG), and Sustrans (now called the WalkWheel Cycle Trust).

I have noted progress against the four principal targets and 33 key performance indicators contained in the Road Safety Strategy to 2030 Annual Statistical Report 2026.

The report (based on 2025 data) indicates that the target for reducing fatalities is on track. It also indicates that the targets for reducing serious injuries, child KSIs and young person KSIs are currently below target. However, the latest PSNI Road Traffic Collision Statistics for 2026 show that 48 people have been killed this year compared to 35 at the same date in 2025.

Evaluation of the latest Progress on agreed targets in the Road Safety Strategy can be found in the Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy to 2030 Annual Statistical Report 2026 published in August 2026.

The work of the latest Road Safety Action Plan to 2027, which supports the Road Safety Strategy, continues at pace. I continue to prioritise those Strategic Interventions that will impact road safety across several areas, including amongst others, policy and legislation, enforcement, communication and awareness, and active travel.

Latest recent Key Strategic Interventions in the plan aimed at reducing number road users killed or seriously injured in the include:

The introduction Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) in October.

The Safer Journeys to Schools (SJS) programme to deliver measures to reduce fatalities and serious injuries involving schoolchildren when they are boarding or getting off buses.

Other planned key actions will be consultations on lowering the legal alcohol limit and modernising drug driving laws, preparing the way forward following the recent consultation on the illegal use of mobile phones when driving, examining options for increasing speeding fines, and the development of new scheme proposals on the Regional Strategic Transport Network, targeting those routes with highest collisions.

Road Safety advertising priorities are also determined by evidence and statistics relating to the main causation factors behind people being Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI). Campaigns are therefore commissioned or aired addressing causation factors where data indicates they will have the greatest impact in reducing KSI.

I have not yet taken final budget decisions for 2026-27, however, given the recent increase in road deaths, I have already committed £972,500 to enable the re-launch of key road safety advertising campaigns, ensuring that vital messages continue to reach road users while longer-term budget decisions are being considered.

As an immediate measure to ensure that road safety messages continue to reach as many road users as possible, I committed to re-launch both Motorcyclist campaigns, Bike Speed and Bike Aware, which focus on and motorcyclist safety. These campaigns ran during April and May and have now concluded.

During the summer period the Pedestrian campaigns were on air and have also now ended.

The campaign entitled ‘Be Bold Be Seen’, aimed at encouraging pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users to wear bold, bright or high-visibility clothing during the darker months is scheduled to be delivered via bus rear advertising and our social media channels in the coming months.

The Road Safety Action Plan to 2027 is currently due for review in March 2027. In the meantime, I will continue to monitor progress against agreed targets and react appropriately where possible.

I also continue to work closely with other Departments and agencies to explore further opportunities to work together on road safety issues. In addition, through the Road Safety Strategic Forum, my officials continue to collaborate with ‘Blue Light’ organisations and other departments to progress the actions of the Road Safety Strategy.