I rise to highlight the very important issue of road safety. The sad reality that 71 people lost their life on our roads in 2023 is truly shocking. Sadly, 55 people died in 2022, and 50 lives were tragically lost in 2021. Whilst those are numbers, they are much, much more: they are human lives that have been lost, with families torn apart, causing grief and devastation in many homes across Northern Ireland.

To date — 17 June — 30 lives have already been lost this year, with a motorcyclist sadly passing away following a crash in Fermanagh last night. I express my sincere condolences to that gentleman's family.

Sadly, evidence shows that more than 95% of road deaths are due to human error, careless or inattentive driving and inappropriate speed for the road or conditions, with drink-driving and drug-driving accounting for most deaths and serious injuries. The data released just last week by the analysis, statistics and research branch, which is based here, also showed alarming figures. From 2018 to 2022, 377 people were killed or seriously injured (KSI) on our roads as a result of taking drink or drugs, which is truly shocking and alarming. Men were responsible for 80% of those KSI collisions, and drivers in the 17-49 age group were responsible for 82% of those collisions. Most alarmingly, 55% — over half — of drink-driving KSI collisions occurred between 9.00 pm and 4.00 am compared with 14% of non-drink-driving KSI collisions. Those shocking statistics are a reminder of the need for action and intervention, and I welcome the Executive's recent approval of the DFI road safety strategy, which was recently released. The strategy rightly has ambitious targets to improve the safety of all road users and rightly highlights the need for joined-up working with other Departments and agencies, which all have a role to play.

At the Infrastructure Committee, we recently heard evidence from the PSNI, with Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson speaking in detail on its ongoing efforts to improve road safety. One of the interesting discussion points was that no country currently has the perfect solution for zero road deaths, which is a reminder that we all have a role to play. I urge the Infrastructure Minister to continue to work with his colleagues and to make every effort to make road safety a priority.