Local Priorities Road Safety Update

Local Priorities Road Safety Update

I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Road Safety, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey.

Operation Lifesaver is our Service-wide road safety operation which focuses on the ‘Fatal Five’ – the five biggest causes of serious injury and fatal collisions. Tragically, 71 people died on our roads in 2023, a further 69 died in 2024, 56 in 2025 and as of the 10th July, 36 people have died as a result of a road traffic collision. As evidenced by the ‘Fatal Five’ and related analysis, excess speed (speeding) remains one of the main reasons for collisions and for KSIs. There can be attitudes or misconceptions around speeding and speed enforcement that we would like to challenge. These include a view that speeding is not a serious matter, not really a crime and is at times both necessary and excusable. In addition, attitude to speed detection/enforcement (by both police officers and by the deployment of road safety vans) can be controversial with some suggesting it is simply a means to gather revenue. The focus of public discourse is often on why and where officers/vans are deployed rather than on the life-saving work they are deployed in. The revenue gathered from speed enforcement is reinvested into road safety via the Road Safety partnership. We know that speeding and road safety is a concern to you and so I want to share some of our recent activity in this area. While we embed Road Safety in all of our policing activities in Lisburn and Castlereagh, we also routinely have focused days of Op Lifesaver activity. On our most recent Op Lifesaver day of action on Thursday 24th September. Officers in Lisburn and Castlereagh conducted 19 speeding operations at locations throughout the district, issuing 15 Fixed Penalty Notices, one Endorsable Fixed Penalty Notice and making one arrest for driving related offences.

Be safe and alert when driving

It is important to stay safe and alert while on the road - you want to avoid all of the emergencies you just planned for. 

• Do not stop if someone tries to flag you down.  
• Never pick up hitchhikers - only give lifts to people you know well.
• Keep your mobile out of sight and do not use it while driving.
• Be aware and cautious of tailgaters or aggressive drivers
• If you are forced to stop, keep your engine running and make sure you have enough room to drive away.
• If a driver gets out and approaches you, flash your lights and sound your horn. If you have an alarm, set it off.
• Keep doors locked and handbags and valuables out of view.
• If you need air, only wind your window down a little so nobody can reach in while you are stopped in traffic.

Where is the safest place to park my vehicle?

There are lots of ways to keep yourself safe when parking your vehicle.

• Look for a secured car park. Choose a car park that is supervised and has restricted entry and exit points along with CCTV cameras.
• Remember if you are parking in daylight things will look different at night. If you are leaving your vehicle on a main road, to ensure your safety when you return, always park in a busy, well-lit area. 
• Always have your keys ready when you are coming back to your car.
• Take a look inside before you get in and make sure there is no-one there.

What should I do if my vehicle breaks down?

It can be a frightening experience if your car breaks down on the motorway or at night. Try to stay calm and remember these tips.

• Call for help on an emergency phone or mobile.
• If you are alone, tell the emergency services this.
• Return to the car but stay on the verge or bank.
• Lock all doors except the passenger door nearest to you.
• If someone pulls up, get into the car, lock the doors and speak through a slightly open window.
• If you are lost then it is safer to make your way to the nearest busy area and work out where you are going from there.
• Do not accept help from strangers.
• Remember that you should only stop on the hard shoulder in an emergency.

If you need to report a crime to us or if you have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.psni.police.uk/ or call the non-emergency number 101. 

Get Involved

Please consider getting involved and contribute to the local priority survey, we may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on.  Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you.

Please click here to complete the survey