Speeding in focus for Road Safety Week

Police are working in partnership with Mid and East Antrim Council and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service to encourage everyone to take responsibility for road safety.
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The call comes ahead of Road Safety Week which begins November 16 and this year focuses on speeding, which is one of the top collision causation factors here in Northern Ireland.

District Road Safety Lead Inspector Aaron Brown says: “We all know the reasons why people continue to die or be seriously injured on our roads – some people drive too fast; some drive after taking a drink or drugs; others refuse or forget to wear seatbelts; and all too often some are too busy on their mobile phones to focus on the road.

“Speeding is just one of the factors we will be focusing on during Road Safety Week. You can expect to see additional patrols and operations as we work with our partners to promote the road safety rules and enforce the law for those people who refuse to respect the roads.”

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Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Peter Johnston, said: “Every time we’re on the road we need to consider what speed is appropriate to keep ourselves and others safe. The formula is simple: the higher the speed, the longer the stopping distance; the harder the crash and the greater the risk of death and injury.

“This Road Safety Week we want to help everyone understand why speed matters and to join together to say there is ‘No Need to Speed’ on our roads.”

Alan Barr, Station Commander, from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, added: “NIFRS attend approximately 60 percent of fatal road traffic collisions that occur in Northern Ireland each year. Unfortunately, firefighters and our colleagues in other emergency services witness all too often the lives destroyed, in particular among the 16 – 24 year old age groups, as a consequence of irresponsible road user behaviour.

“We hope that by raising awareness of the dangers of speeding during Road Safety Week it will help keep people safer on our roads and reduce the number of road traffic collisions attended by the emergency services.”

Share The Road to Zero is a huge road safety community programme with one aim – zero road deaths on our roads. You can pledge here: www.sharetheroadtozero.com