Road deaths 20 up on 2013

Twenty more people have been killed on Northern Ireland's roads this year compared with the same point in 2013.

Two men involved in separate crashes in counties Antrim and Fermanagh died in hospital today, taking the fatality total so far in 2014 to 73. At the same point last year, 53 people had been killed in road crashes.

Motorcyclist Bryan Bernard Lynch, 48, from Enniskillen, suffered catastrophic injuries in a collision with a car last Saturday.

The accident involving a black Kawasaki motorcycle and a blue Vauxhall Vectra happened shortly before 4.50pm on the main A4 road between Lisbellaw and Tamlaght on November 15.

Mr Lynch was the 13th motorcyclist to be killed on the roads so far this year.

Meanwhile, Ian Bailie, 66, from Back Road in Lisburn, also succumbed to injuries suffered in a crash on the Old Ballynahinch Road in the city on October 28.

The total number of road deaths last year was 57.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chief inspector John Wilson has urged road users to be vigilant.

He said: My message to all road users is to please take care and be mindful of road conditions, stay within the speed limit and be safe, not just for yourself but for others.''

Last month senior coroner John Leckey called for a hard-hitting television advertisement warning motorists to be aware of motorcyclists to be re-run.

Mr Leckey told an inquest into the death of a teenage biker the 1975 advert which had the slogan Think Once Think Twice Think Bike'' had a message which was still relevant.