A 150 per cent rise in the number of fatal road accidents in Northern Ireland's Foyle district in the past year has prompted police to step up safety reminders to drivers in the region.

Following similar warnings from Northern Ireland car insurance experts, motorists are urged to "take heed" while driving in winter weather conditions. Speed is identified as the primary culprit in the fatality increase, along with "inattention, talking on mobile phones, and distractions including interacting with children in the back seat".

Road safety education officer Constable Stuart Crutchley tells the Londonderry Sentinel that "even one death on our roads is one too many".

"Our strategy to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads is based around education and enforcement," he adds. "Throughout the year we speak to schools, colleges and universities in an effort to educate young drivers about responsible driving."

Accidents among Northern Ireland car insurance customers would be "greatly reduced", he concludes, if all road users slowed down, left enough time for their journeys and paid attention to the road while driving, in addition to obeying speed limits and refraining from using a mobile phone behind the wheel.