Each road death 'is a catastrophic loss' warns PSNI after 2,400 speeding and traffic offences detected during five-day safety operation
Over 2,100 speed detections and 300 further traffic offences have been identified during a five-day PSNI road safety operation.
Among those caught during Operation Lifesaver between July 27 and 31 July were drivers travelling at speeds twice and three times the limit.
Examples included a restricted driver driving at 62mph on a 30mph stretch of the Tandragee Road in Poyntzpass; a driver detected at 81mph on the 40mph Knockbreda carriageway in Belfast and a driver speeding at 90mph on the A2 Garron Road in Glenariff where it’s 30mph.
Other notable detections included a motorist speeding at 105mph on the 60mph Belfast Road, Nutts Corner.
Provisional figures for the operation, released by police on Tuesday (August 4), show a total of 2,132 speeding detections and 308 further traffic offences.
The operation focused primarily on tackling speeding with the majority of detections made through deployment of Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership safety camera vans.
However, there were also 59 detections for careless driving, 45 for no insurance, 57 for construction and use, 18 drink or drug driving detections, 18 for not wearing a seatbelt and 15 for using a mobile phone while driving.
Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson , head of the PSNI's Road Policing Unit, said: “Despite repeated police appeals for motorists to slow down, there are still drivers speeding.
"There are still drivers who are not heeding our fatal five messaging, drivers who think it’s okay to drink-drive, to not wear a seatbelt, to drive an uninsured car or use your phone while driving.
“Anyone who speeds, who commits any of these offences, is putting their life and the lives of others at risk. It’s unacceptable, and there has to be a societal attitude change towards speeding and road safety in general.
"The attitude ‘it’s not really a crime’, or ‘the worst won’t happen to me’ has to change and people have to take personal responsibility for their actions. Drivers must think what they need to do keep themselves and every other road user safe.”
From the start of the year, 44 lives have been lost on Northern Ireland’s roads and many people have been left injured as a result of a road traffic collision.
"Take a moment to think about this,” urges Chief Inspector Simpson. “These are more than statistics. Each death is a catastrophic loss, with too many people whose lives have been changed in an instant. Actions behind the wheel don't just affect the driver, they affect other road users too.
“Remember the Fatal Five - slow down, stay off your phone, never drink or drug drive, don't get distracted and always wear your seatbelt.
"Making sure you do all you can as a driver and road user to ensure your journey is safe should be a priority at all times because the road is something we all share. A little more patience, respect and awareness could save a life.”
More than 35 vehicle checkpoints were implemented at varying times across the PSNI South Area during a Day of Action on Road Safety on July 28. A total of 50 penalty notices were issued for speeding and 23 detections were made for road related offences.
The area covers the districts of Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon; Fermanagh & Omagh; Mid Ulster; and Newry, Mourne & Down.