Slow down on Sunday
17 Sep 2010
Police, An Garda Síochána and the Ulster GAA Council have joined together and appealed for all fans bound for the All Ireland Football Final in Dublin this weekend to exercise care on their journey.
As with all major sporting and entertainment events which draw large numbers of spectators, Police and An Garda Síochána will be running a joint road safety operation over the weekend targeting law breaking motorists.
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.
Superintendent Muir Clark Head of Road Policing explained: “We want everyone heading to the All-Ireland this weekend to get there and back safely, so we’ve been working closely with our An Garda Síochána colleagues to ensure we have appropriate road policing resources in place to cope with the increased traffic.
“Tragically, 37 people have already lost their lives in Road Traffic Collisions across Northern Ireland this year, while that’s significantly fewer when compared with the same time last year, it still remains that far too many families and communities have been affected by these deaths.
“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,” Superintendent Clark said.
“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,” Superintendent Clark concluded.
Danny Murphy Provincial Director Ulster GAA added: "A significant amount of fans will travel to Dublin this weekend to support Down, Tyrone and Cork. As part of the Ulster GAA Live to Play campaign we have issued advertisements and notices around all the Clubs in Ulster asking people to drive safely and take care on the roads.
“The All-Ireland final is Ireland's largest sporting occasion and we ask that all fans behave sensibility so everyone can enjoy the day. Finally we encourage spectators to observe traffic signs, notices and cooperate with PSNI officers Garda and stewards on match day.”
