1,700 people detected for motoring offences

Police have released the figures obtained throughout the Operation Roadsafe campaign, carried out over the bank holiday weekend.

Almost 1,700 people throughout Northern Ireland were detected for a range of motoring offences during the recent crackdown aimed at preventing accidents and saving lives.

Between Friday August 25 and Monday August 28, police carried out the operation, where they targeted people who drink and drive, speed, use mobile phones while driving, fail to wear seatbelts or who drive without due care and attention.

Officers from Road Policing Command Units were supported by local police and specialist Tactical Support Groups.

The Police Service's helicopter was also deployed to assist with the campaign.

Operations in the border areas where co-ordinated with An Garda Síochána Traffic Corps.

Throughout the weekend, 585 drivers were detected for excess speed, 13 for dangerous driving, 272 for careless driving, 52 for drink/drug driving, 317 for seat belt offences, 73 for no insurance and 15 for driving whilst disqualified.

Officers also recorded a further 368 offences.

Superintendent Bill Brown, Head of the Police Service's Road Policing Development Branch, stressed that the figures clearly showed that drivers had to take more responsibility on the roads.

He said: "Fortunately no one died over the Bank Holiday weekend. However, 1695 people were detected for motoring offences. This is more than twice the number of people detected at the end of May which must be of concern to all road users.

"This was one of the busiest Bank Holiday weekends of the year, particularly as it was the last one before the new school year begins. The high volume of traffic on the roads this weekend is one of the reasons for the rise in detections. We told the public on Friday that police would be out in large numbers to crackdown on drivers flouting the law. Unfortunately there are drivers out there who continue to ignore all warnings.”

Superintendent Brown added: "Once again we appeal to motorists to abide by the rules of the road, heed speed limits, wear seat belts, don't drink and drive, and drive with due care and consideration for other road users. If they do not, they must face up to the fact that they could easily kill or seriously injure themselves and other road users. We will work continuously with the public and our partners to make the roads safer. We are already planning initiatives for the return to school next week and the Christmas period.

"The Police Service remains committed to tackling the issue of road safety through both education and enforcement. We make no apology for that."

(EF/KMcA)