Fatal drug driving crashes double on NI roads, research shows

Driving or riding and being involved in a fatal or serious collision because of drugs now accounts for one fifth (21%) of all fatalities and casualties where drink or drugs were a factor in the years 2018-2022 – compared to one tenth in the previous reporting period, covering 2011-2015.

It’s according to research commissioned by the Department for Infrastructure and produced by the Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch.

Almost 400 people have been killed in road traffic crashes over a four year period because of alcohol and drugs, the research revealed.

Of a total of 377 deaths where impairment by alcohol or drugs was a factor, 296 deaths were caused by alcohol and 81 by drugs.

Impairment by alcohol was the fourth highest causation factor for fatal or serious Injury collisions.

It comes behind inattention or attention diverted, the driver or rider being in the wrong position or course, or driving with excessive speed for the road conditions.

Men or male drivers were responsible for 80% of such collisions where alcohol was the primary cause.

Drivers aged 17 to 49 were responsible for over four-fifths (82%) of drink driving collisions which were fatal or caused serious injury, while people aged 16 to 49 made up 82% of drink drive casualties, compared with 57% of all casualties where there was death or serious injury.

Most drink drive casualties involved car users – compared to 57% of all casualties where there was death or serious injury.

More than half (55%) of drink driving took place between the fours of 9pm at night and 4am in the morning. In general, 14% of all collisions where there was death or serious injury took place during those hours where alcohol or drugs were not a factor.

More than half (56%) of drink driving collisions involved a single vehicle, which accounts for 21% of all fatal or serious collisions overall.

The Mid Ulster Local Government District had the highest annual rate (6.9) of drink driving fatal or serious casualties per 100,000 resident population, while Mid and East Antrim had the lowest (1.6).