Welcoming the New Year with continued safety

I welcome the fact that the number of people dying on our roads is at the lowest level since records began in 1931.  Since this date a total of 14,570 people have lost their lives on Northern Ireland's roads.

Last year 48 deaths were recorded, but this is still far too many.  This is almost one death per week and 48 families who grieve over the loss of a loved one is 48 families too many.  Tragically, these figures include five children who died, an increase from two last year.

Despite the very many challenges your Police Service faces, the reduction shows that we will not be distracted from working together with our partner agencies to increase education and undertake enforcement to continue to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads.  The sad reality is that many of these deaths could have been avoided.  Inattention including the use of mobile phones whilst driving, speed and alcohol continue to be significant factors which are the cause of serious collisions, and it is very disappointing that whilst the message of drinking and driving is getting through,  in the run up to Christmas we still detected over 130 motorists who were unfit to drive.

The requirement to deploy significant numbers of police officers to deal with the ongoing flag protests can serve to distract us from other important areas of policing, such as the prevention of road deaths and indeed the prevention and detection of really serious crimes such as the murder of Jason McGovern and the attempted murder of a police colleague and his close family earlier this week.  

Our resources are not infinite and we will continue to do everything possible to ensure that we prioritise police officers and staff into those areas which require them the most, but at the same time try to ensure that other important areas do not suffer.  There is no policing solution to the ongoing flag protests. The Police Service will continue to do everything we can, while those with influence must renew their efforts to find a peaceful solution to community concerns.