The PSNI has joined forces with the Gardaí in a day-of-action aimed at curbing the alarming rise in road deaths on both sides of the border.
While the two police organisations regularly stage joint operations to launch Christmas drink-drive campaigns, it is the first time they have teamed up to deal with speeding.
More than 200 people have died in road accidents across the island of Ireland so far this year.
In a co-ordinated day-of-action, officers from both organisations staged checkpoints throughout Ireland to mark National Slow Down Day. Senior officers from the Gardaí and PSNI also staged a joint checkpoint at Bridgend on the Derry-Donegal border to highlight the issue.
Head of the PSNI’s road division, Chief Inspector Graham Dodds described the increase in deaths on Irish roads as “tragic”.
He said there were a “fatal five” causes of deaths. These were drink/drug driving, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, driving without due care and attention and driving while using a device or mobile phone.
Read more:
- 'Disturbing' rise in road deaths across island of Ireland
- Ciera Grimley: Mother-of-three dies seven days after same road crash that claimed life of her husband
Garda Superintendent David Kelly said Thursday’s day-of-action featured different policing units as well as uniformed officers.
