Road traffic casualties with clinically serious injuries increase in Northern Ireland
Date published:
New research published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department for Infrastructure present the Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale 3+ (MAIS3+) road casualties in Northern Ireland for 1999 to 2023, providing a clinical definition of serious injuries resulting from road traffic collisions.
Key findings:
- In 2023, there were 66 MAIS3+ casualties on Northern Ireland's roads - a 12% increase compared to 2022, but still 72% lower than the peak of 235 recorded in 2002
- While overall trends show a historical decrease in serious injuries followed by signs of levelling off, recent years have shown concerning increases
- Males accounted for 69% of all MAIS3+ casualties between 2019-2023, higher than their representation in overall hospital admissions (67%) and PSNI serious injuries (62%)
- Adults aged 70+ made up over a quarter (26%) of all MAIS3+ casualties from 2019-2023, which differs markedly from their representation in overall hospital admissions (14%) and PSNI reported serious injuries (11%)
- Car users represented the largest group of MAIS3+ casualties (43%) in the period 2019-2023, though vulnerable road users (pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists) collectively accounted for 44% of clinically serious injuries
About the publication
This is the ninth report in the MAIS3+ series and provides detailed analysis of clinically defined serious injuries following road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland. The MAIS3+ measure differs from Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) data by using a standardised clinical definition rather than police assessment, providing a more accurate international comparison of serious injury statistics. The report includes:
- Comparisons between MAIS3+ data and PSNI-reported serious injuries
- Analysis by road user type, age and gender
- Historical trends from 1999 to 2023
- Detailed methodology information
Further information
Read the full report: MAIS3 Plus road casualties in Northern Ireland 1999 to 2023