“Operation Roadsafe”, which cracked down on drink-driving, speeding, dangerous driving, mobile phone use and non-wearing of seatbelts, ran in Fermanagh from 3 to 6 August.
The Minister said: “It was good to see Operation Roadsafe for myself, especially during National Road Victim month, and I want to thank the PSNI for their work and dedication in making our roads safer. It is important to remember that, ultimately, operations like this are designed to prevent us from suffering the tragedy and heartbreak of losing loved ones because of road carnage.
“It is also important that road users realise that this exercise was not a one-off. The police are out every day enforcing safety on our roads. This operation is supported by the Garda Síochána, so anyone who thinks that they can break the law and get away with it can rest assured that there is no place to hide".
Arlene Foster added: “It is particularly important to get the road safety message across in rural areas. Over the last five years, 70% of our road deaths happened on rural roads and more than three quarters of all speed-related deaths and serious injuries occur on rural roads. That is of great concern to me and not just as someone from a rural area.
“I can assure you that I will continue to examine the causes of all collisions to help me to determine what more can be done.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- At 126, road deaths in Northern Ireland in 2006 were at their lowest level for almost 60 years. Child fatalities were at the lowest level on record at nine.
- So far this year there have been 64 road fatalities compared with 77 at this point last year. There has been one child fatality compared with five last year.
- Up to the end of July, in Fermanagh, there were five road fatalities compared with 10 last year.
- In 2006, 46 people died and 272 were seriously injured in Northern Ireland due to speed. Up to the end of July there were 11 speed related road deaths compared with 26 in 2006. Please note that all statistics for 2007 are preliminary.
- Male drivers aged 17-24 years of age are almost seven times more likely to cause a speed related crash. They accounted for 40% of the casualties killed or seriously injured in 2006 due to excessive speed.
- In 2006, 18 people died and 115 were seriously injured due to drink/drug driving. Up to the end of July there were there 71 drink/drug driving related road deaths (plus 21 pedestrians) compared with 16 (plus three pedestrians) in 2006. Please note that all statistics for 2007 are preliminary.
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