PSNI ‘taking a tough stance on speeders and so-called ‘boy racers’ in the borough

A total of 429 people have been detected for motoring offences in the Carrickfergus are in the first seven months of this year.
Chief Inspector Stephen Reid.Chief Inspector Stephen Reid.
Chief Inspector Stephen Reid.

PSNI Area Commander Stephen Reid drew attention to the statistics as he warned road users that flouting the law could lead to serious consequences. His comments follow a special meeting of Carrickfergus Community Safety and Policing Partnership.

CI Reid said: “Road safety in Carrickfergus is as high on the agenda for police as it is in any other part of Northern Ireland. The safety of members of this community is paramount, but road users need to remember their responsibilities because the penalties are now harsher.”

“Carrickfergus PSNI along with our partner agencies has utilised considerable resources to educate the community about road safety. This work will continue however we also need to make sure unsafe drivers are held accountable and this will mean an increased focus on enforcement.

CI Reid highlighted Belfast Road as a key issue: “There is a community concern about speed levels and safety on the Belfast Road and through partnership work in that area, the PSNI will be taking a tough stance on speeders and so called ‘boy racers’.

“An officer will not use his discretion for instances such as speeding or not wearing a seatbelt. The driver will receive a fixed penalty notice. That is a fine of £60 and three points on your licence. Anything above that and you could face a court appearance.”

CI Reid said that this year’s focus has brought results: “In the period January to July of this year in Carrickfergus 429 people were detected for motoring offences by the Northern Ireland Roads Safety Partnership. Eighteen people received fixed penalty notices for speeding but twenty-four people stopped by police under suspicion of driving while unfit through drink or drugs were referred for prosecution as were three people who were detected for dangerous driving.”

As the TIMES reported last week, the PCSP Policing Committee meeting was attended by PSNI and TransportNI representatives and was called to discuss an “area of community concern”.

Chair Councillor Noel Williams said: “Policing Committee representatives highlighted the issues that were causing community concern on the Belfast Road. They also received a detailed report from the PSNI outlining the substantial efforts they have already been making in this area of community concern.”

The committee, he noted, reached agreement on the following recommendations:

PSNI, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership, to continue to undertake targeted speed-checks in the area, in the short term (manual and vehicle).

TransportNI conducts a survey of the road, to review potential speed-control and engineering solutions.

Speed control measures: fixed speed cameras would be introduced: average speed cameras recommended as an aspirational target if funding could be found: further reduction in speed-limit agreed as inappropriate given evidential effectiveness; more repeater speed limit signs along this stretch of road; speed limit reproduced on the road surface; warning signs to motorists that elderly people may be residing or seeking to cross the road in this area.

TransportNI to investigate feasibility of introducing ‘no right turn’ at junctions if speed control cannot be enforced.

Councillor Williams added that TransportNI has agreed to conduct a comprehensive survey into possible engineering solutions to reduce speed on the Belfast Road and to report back at a further date.

The chairman added: “Furthermore, members were pleased to receive a comprehensive statistical analysis from the PSNI, who they believed to be performing well in Carrickfergus against their national targets.”