Police stage road safety day of action after 2026 death ‘carnage’
Police have staged a “day of action” amid a significant spike in death numbers.
Officers set up checkpoints on roads across the southern part of Northern Ireland on Tuesday, from Newcastle, Co Down, across Co Armagh, part of Co Tyrone and Co Fermanagh to the border.
It comes after the deaths of 42 people on Northern Ireland’s roads to July 27, a significantly higher figure than to the same date in 2025 (27) and 2024 (35).
Speed was particularly highlighted as an area of concern, following the alleged detection of a driver travelling at more than 140mph on a motorway last week.
PSNI South Area commander Chief Superintendent Norman Haslett said that number of deaths in that time period in any other context would spark outcry.
Speaking to media at a checkpoint on Concession Road in Cullaville, Co Armagh on Tuesday, Mr Haslett said Operation Lifesaver is in response to the “carnage” on our roads this year.
“I don’t use the word carnage lightly,” he said.
“This year we have lost 42 people on the roads of Northern Ireland as a result of fatal road traffic collisions, that is an appalling statistic, it means that we’re on average experiencing a fatality on our roads six times every month.
“Once every five days police officers are knocking on doors to tell families that their loved ones are gone.
“42 is not just a cold statistic, these are people’s lives, 42 people who got up to do their daily business, and the devastation that that causes to their family, friends, their community is absolutely immeasurable.
“I would contend that if we lost 42 people in Northern Ireland in the time span under any other circumstances, I would say there would be a public outcry, but here in Northern Ireland we seem to have some sort of a societal apathy, people think that it’s just the norm. It is not the normal.”
Mr Haslett called for reflection on the number of deaths, their actions on the road and the “fatal five” causes of collisions, including speeding.
He went on to reveal they caught a motorist on a motorway driving at more than 140mph, twice the national speed limit, adding that they had not been wearing a seat belt.
“People are driving too quickly, a speed limit is what it is, a limit, not a target, you should be driving safely according to conditions on the road,” he said.
“People aren’t wearing seatbelts, people are still getting behind the wheel while under the influence of both alcohol and drugs. 50% of our drug tests at the side of the road, we’re finding are positive.
“It’s not good enough.
“People are not paying attention when they’re on the roads, people are looking at their mobile phones for messages, and that split second people take to look at their phone could be the split second where something happens and they’re putting themselves and other road users at risk of serious injury or death.”