Published Friday, 27 November 2009
The crashes left 18 people dead and 121 others needing hospital treatment.
As the PSNI traffic branch prepare for the run-up to Christmas and the New Year, it also emerged on Friday that almost 2,500 drivers have been detected for excess alcohol in the six months between April and September.
Already this year, 104 people have been killed on the roads, 28 of them in Fermanagh - more than any other county.
Police are again planning to mount a series of operations, some of which will run in co-operation with the Garda traffic branch in the border counties, in a bid to reduce the level of carnage.
Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland who launched the new anti-drink driving offensive today said drivers who had consumed alcohol or drugs caused 103 fatal and serious road traffic collisions last year. Eighteen people had been killed.
He said: "To put these figures into perspective, think about your favourite soccer, gaelic or rugby team. Think about their coach and manager. Think about a class of 18 school children
"Now imagine they are all dead because of the selfish actions of someone who thought they could drive after consuming alcohol or drugs.
"I want all motorists to think about the consequences to yourself and your family of being involved in a serious collision. How would you feel if your actions resulted in you or one of your family being paralysed? How would you feel if some innocent person was killed?
During the drink drive operation last winter, 477 drivers were detected with excess alcohol, down 152 on the previous year and police claim that 14 of the 110 road fatalities over that time were directly attributable to excess drink.
Environment Minister Edwin Poots also urged motorists to leave their cars at home over the Christmas and New Year period.
He added: "Think about the tragedy of what could happen if you got behind the wheel. Think about those people who were here last Christmas but won't be this year. Think about what their families and friends are going through. Think about the effect it would have on your family if you were killed or seriously injured."