In Northern Ireland, insurance violations and speeding were the most prevalent driving offenses last year, with infractions occurring at an alarming rate of 126 per day.
According to statistics from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) at Stormont, over 19,000 driving offenses were documented in 2023. This figure reflects a slight increase from the 19,089 recorded in 2022. During the first half of this year, from January 1 to June 25, there were 7,880 offenses noted.
The most frequent violations included driving without insurance, which accounted for 4,113 cases, and excessive speeding, with 4,067 incidents. Additionally, there were 1,396 cases involving drivers with elevated alcohol levels.
This rise in offenses comes amidst funding reductions for the DfI, leading to a decrease in road safety advertisements, and a reduction in the number of PSNI road policing officers due to financial constraints.
Mark H Durkan, SDLP’s infrastructure spokesperson and Policing Board member, emphasized the gravity of even minor offenses, noting that a momentary lapse in attention can result in road tragedies. He stressed the necessity of reinvigorating road safety campaigns and increasing police collaboration with community and sports organizations to raise awareness.
Durkan criticized the decrease in road policing officers at a time when road fatalities are rising, underscoring the need for adequate funding to address these issues.
In response, PSNI Superintendent John Wilson assured that road safety remains a top priority for the police force. He highlighted the proactive measures undertaken by officers to detect and address traffic violations and emphasized the collaborative efforts with various partners to enhance road safety and public awareness.
