PSNI appeal to reduce number of road deaths

Thursday September 18th 2014

Fifty seven people have lost their lives on Northern Ireland’s roads to date this year, and the PSNI is asking churches to help them stop that figure rising.

Stephen Martin, Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for Road Policing, has asked church leaders to raise awareness of the devastating impact these deaths have on families, and to urge people to drive more responsibly.

Assistant Chief Constable Martin said the same number of people have already died on our roads this year as died during the whole of 2013.

This Sunday, September 21, he would like parishes and churches to raise awareness of the number of road deaths and the devastation caused to families, and to urge people to understand the consequences of their actions and urge them to drive responsibly

Assistant Chief Constable Martin said: “This increase in road deaths should be of deep concern to everyone. We all bear and share the responsibility to make our roads safer.

“I imagine there are people sitting in the congregation today who have been affected in some way by a road death.”

The Assistant Chief Constable said any loss of life is tragic, but the real tragedy is that most, if not all, of the deaths on our roads could be prevented.

“The responsibility lies with each and every one of us to ensure we are not risking our own lives or the lives of others,” he said.

“This means slowing down, wearing our seatbelts, paying full attention to the road and never driving after drinking alcohol. It sounds simple. It makes sense. We just need to do it.”

The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, is supporting the appeal and is encouraging the people of Connor to respond to the Assistant Chief Constable’s message.