Northern Ireland Road Safety Monitor 2011

This report continues the series of research monitors on attitudes to road safety
issues in Northern Ireland. Since 1995 the Department of the Environment for
Northern Ireland has commissioned Central Survey Unit to undertake the production
of these monitors. Previous to this a similar series was conducted by Ulster
Marketing Surveys beginning in 1984.

The four topics covered in the 2011 questionnaire are: speeding, mobile phone
usage, school bus signage and lighting, and carelessness and inattention. Respondents have been asked about their behaviour, their attitude and their awareness regarding these topics. The section on carelessness and inattention was introduced to the Road Safety Monitor for the first time in 2011.

Respondents think that the three most important factors in causing injuries or
deaths on our roads are:
• People speeding (85%)
• People driving after drinking (67%)
• Carelessness on roads (63%)

The percentage of respondents who found carelessness on roads to be one of the three most important factors in causing injuries or deaths on our roads, has increased by 8% since 2010.

Respondents were most likely to state that TV Advertising (77%), Penalties for breaking the law (33%), and news and documentaries on TV and Radio (31%) were the three most important factors in creating an awareness of road safety.