A6 death toll27 in decade

The PSNI’s Central Statistics Branch have revealed that between January 1, 2006 and September 30 last year, there were 26 fatal collisions, resulting in 27 deaths on the road, which stretches all the way from Carlisle Circus in Belfast, all the way up to the Limavady Road in Derry.

The worst affected section of the A6 was the northern most stretch of the major artery on this side of the Glenshane.

Between Dungiven and Derry, for example, there were nine fatal collisions over the 10 years period.

The second most lethal section was between Templeton Park, Templepatrick and New Street in Randalstown, where there were seven fatal accidents.

Further north towards the Glenshane again there were six fatal accidents between Castledawson Roundabout and Dungiven.

And elsewhere, there were two fatal accidents between New Street, Randalstown and Castledawson Roundabout; and a further two fatal accidents between Carlisle Circus, Belfast and Templeton Park, Templepatrick.

Nineteen of the road traffic victims were male and eight were female, the PSNI has confirmed.

The A6 is currently undergoing a major upgrade, which will eventually see the road improved to dual-carriageway status in order to reduce journey times and improve road safety.

The tender is for the design and construction of a new 25.5 kilometre “high standard dual carriageway from Drumahoe to Dungiven, including a five kilometre bypass of Dungiven” was eventually issued just a few weeks ago.

Figures have also been newly released by the PSNI showing a breakdown of the number of road traffic injuries and deaths by carriageway-type over the past decade.

The data show 125 people were seriously injured and 14 people killed in accidents on motorways in the North since 2006.

But on all other road types 9,609 people were seriously injured and 882 killed over the same period.