Police Urge Caution on Roads over the Holiday Period
10 Jul 2012
With the unpredictable summer weather, brighter evenings and the start of school summer holidays, police are appealing for all road users to exercise caution.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the annual summer road safety operations Superintendent Muir Clark Head of Road and Armed Support Unit warned: “With many people enjoying some time off, we are appealing to all road users to exercise caution, as our statistics illustrate that, like any other holiday period, there is an increased risk of collisions.
“Considering that speeding and drink driving remain the biggest causes of collisions which kill and seriously injure people on roads across Northern Ireland, our message to drivers and riders is very simple.
“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.
“Over the summer period, we will strategically deploy police resources on roads across Northern Ireland and will be running joint operations with our An Garda Síochána Traffic Corps colleagues in the border counties, specifically looking for road users taking unnecessary and potentially life-changing risks.
“As many school children will be enjoying the holidays, road users should also keep an eye out for increased numbers of children walking or cycling on rural roads, crossing roads, particularly close to parks and leisure amenities, in addition to junctions and bus stops.
“The DOE recently launched the latest advertisement which highlights pedestrian safety. All road users – motorists, bikers and pedestrians should pay heed to the messages in the advertisement and consider these simple safety measures:
- Always use pedestrian crossings.
- Be safe and be seen. Make sure you are visible to motorists. Fluorescent materials are most effective during the day and reflective materials at night.
- Where there's no footpath walk on the right hand side, close to the verge and facing the oncoming traffic.
- Take extra care when under the influence of alcohol - you are more likely to make errors of judgment or behave in a way that could lead you to become involved in a collision.
- Don't get distracted - listening to an mp3 player, chatting to friends or sending a text while crossing the road will distract you and put you in serious danger.
- Motorists should be aware of pedestrians near or crossing the road - they may not be aware you are coming - they may not have 'road sense', so expect the unexpected.
“At this time of year, we normally see an increase in the number of bikers using the roads, so again, we are reminding all road users to be mindful of bikers. Biking can be a great experience but ridden inappropriately a motorcycle becomes a lethal weapon. Bikers have a responsibility to ride their bikes in a proper and safe manner. We urge you to be vigilant, take account of the weather and traffic conditions and please, bike safely.
“Motorists should give extra consideration to motorcyclists - look out for bikes when overtaking, at junctions, when turning right and when emerging onto main roads.
“Drivers of heavy goods vehicles and agricultural machinery should be particularly vigilant and make full use of their mirrors to check for bikers.
“Everyone must take into account increased traffic levels over the summer period and heed the road safety message. We will enforce the law to make Northern Ireland’s roads safer, but our role is very much secondary.
“All road users have a role to play in preventing deaths and injuries on our roads. All we ask is that drivers slow down, do not drive after drinking or taking drugs, wear a seatbelt and drive with greater care and attention,” Superintendent Clark concluded.
