Police surge on road safety
01 May 2009
During this coming Bank Holiday weekend, there will be a series of high-visibility road policing operations and road safety events across Northern Ireland.
During operation ‘Surge’, specialist road traffic police officers will concentrate on key locations to target the small minority of people who continue to flout the laws, whether speeding, driving inappropriately or dangerously, not wearing seatbelts, or driving after taking drink or drugs.
Chief Inspector Diane Pennington, Head of Road Policing explained: “Our statistics illustrate that there is an increased risk for collisions during bank holiday weekends.
“The combination of brighter evenings and the bank-holiday will result in more people out and about over the course of the weekend, meaning there will be extra traffic and greater numbers of pedestrians.
“Already this year, 38 people have lost their lives in Road Traffic Collisions across Northern Ireland, four more than this time last year.
“The majority of deaths and serious injuries caused by road traffic collisions on our roads are preventable, so we make absolutely no apology for adopting a very tough approach to enforcement,” Chief Inspector Pennington said.
In addition to operation ‘Surge’, Police will be running Bikesafe events at GS Motorcycles in Hillsborough on Saturday 2 May and in Ballymena at T7 Honda on Friday 2 and Saturday 2 May.
During the event, motorcyclists can avail of free assessed ride-outs with Police advanced motorcyclists who will assess bikers skills and then offer professional advice on how to improve their riding abilities and get even more enjoyment out of their bikes.
“Bikesafe offers an ideal opportunity to raise the profile of motorcycle safety,” Chief Inspector Pennington continued. “Northern Ireland has a big biking culture, which is growing each year.
“Our award winning campaign is aimed at all bikers ranging from the novice to the experienced motorcyclist. Our advanced motorcyclists give advice on the proper maintenance and handling of machines and in addition, raise safety awareness by allowing motorcyclists to draw on the experience of experts.
“So whether driving or riding a motorbike our message to all road users this weekend is very simple. We all have a role to play in preventing deaths and injuries on our roads.
“If you speed, take drink or drugs and drive, fail to wear your seatbelt, drive carelessly or dangerously, you run the real risk of killing or seriously injuring yourself, your passengers or some other innocent road user,” Chief Inspector Pennington concluded.
