asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if any special action will be taken to attempt to reduce the number of road accidents in Northern Ireland over the Christmas and new year period.

Yes. I understand that a Royal Ulster Constabulary campaign is to be announced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many of the road accidents occurring during the Christmas and new year period over the last five years resulted in (a) death and (b) serious injury; and what were the full casualty figures;(2) how many road accidents have taken place in Northern Ireland over the Christmas and new year period in each of the last five years.

The information is as follows:

Christmas period	No. of accidents	No. of deaths	No. of injuries
23–27 Dec. 1977	79	8	115
22–26 Dec. 1978	82	5	122
21–26 Dec. 1979	82	6	118
23–27 Dec. 1980	74	3	106
23–28 Dec. 1981	93	6	138

New year period	No. of accidents	No. of deaths	No. of injuries
31 Dec. 1977 and 1 Jan 1978	28	1	24
31 Dec. 1978 and 1 Jan. 1979	17	0	20
31 Dec. 1979 and 1 Jan. 1980	14	0	18
31 Dec. 1980 and 1 Jan. 1981	27	1	43
31 Dec. 1981 and 1 Jan. 1982	37	3	61

Information about the seriousness of injuries is not readily available from police records and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.