'˜Road safety is everyone's responsibility'

Superintendent Emma Bond explains: “We all know the reasons why people continue to die or are seriously injured on our roads – some people drive too fast, some drive after taking a drink; others refuse or forget to wear seatbelts; and all too often some are too busy texting on their mobile phones to focus on the road.

“As we head into autumn with the darker evenings and inclement weather conditions the roads can be a more dangerous place not just for drivers but pedestrians and cyclists too. Roads are much busier with the pupils back to school and the weather is still not a deterrent for some of you more hardy cyclists. Rush hour, heavy traffic, and increased activity around schools means we all need to pay extra attention.

“Keeping people safe on the roads is routine business for police however this Thursday you may notice an increase in policing activity around schools, main roads, and areas where local people have expressed concerns around driving standards.

“Officers in Antrim and Newtownabbey, supported by our colleagues in Roads Policing, will be focusing our attention on speeders, dangerous drivers, careless driving around schools, and pedestrian safety through a mixture of enforcement and engagement opportunities. We will be visiting schools and teaming up with our colleagues in the Policing and Community Safety Partnership to reinforce the importance of staying safe on the roads.

“We will be keeping you updated on what we get up to on the day on social media so make sure to follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts. And if you think there are areas we need to look at then let us know. Road safety has to be everyone’s responsibility.”