PSNI urge Derry motorists to remember Fatal Five rules to help make roads safer for everyone

'We all have responsibility for making our roads safer for everyone'.

This is the message from police to drivers across Derry City & Strabane as Road Safety Week continues.

In 2023, there were 71 fatal collisions in Northern Ireland. This year, to date, there have been 58 fatal road traffic collisions.

With a focus on road safety this week, officers have been on patrol throughout the District conducting road safety operations, focusing on the ‘Fatal Five’ and the devastating consequences failing to follow these rules can have - don’t drink or take drugs and drive; slow down; don’t be careless; always wear your seat belt and never use your mobile phone while driving.

The public will continue to see officers conduct these operations, and they’ll also be utilising DrugWipes, which are roadside testing kits which use a mouth swab to check if a person has taken cannabis or cocaine, and are available in addition to the existing testing available for alcohol levels.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "In the run-up to the Christmas period, police are urging everyone to play their part in making our roads safer for everyone.

"Officers will continue to conduct high-visibility patrols, working with retail and transport partners to keep people safe when they’re out and about.

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"We also encourage the public to continue to report anything that may seem untoward. This information can and does make a difference.

"We also encourage anyone who finds themselves in a situation where they need help to call us on 101 and, always 999 in an emergency. You can also make a report online at https://www.psni.police.uk/report, which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Finally, we want to ensure that everyone has the knowledge and information they need to stay safe. We all share the responsibility to prevent deaths and serious injuries on our roads."

For more information go to https://www.psni.police.uk/fatal-five.