More than 2,100 drivers caught speeding in five-day PSNI crackdown as motorists hit 90mph in 30 zones

Tuesday, 4 August 2026

More than 2,100 motorists were caught speeding across Northern Ireland in just five days, with some drivers detected travelling at twice and even three times the legal speed limit, prompting the PSNI to renew its warning that dangerous driving is continuing to cost lives.

Operation Lifesaver, which ran from 27 July to 31 July, resulted in 2,132 speeding detections, while police also recorded 308 additional traffic offences, including careless driving, uninsured driving, drink and drug driving, mobile phone use and seatbelt offences.

The figures have been released as the PSNI continues to tackle the so-called Fatal Five causes of the most serious collisions on Northern Ireland’s roads.

Extreme speeding among worst offences

Among the most serious cases detected during the operation were:

• A restricted driver travelling at 62mph in a 30mph zone on the Tandragee Road in Poyntzpass.

• A driver recorded at 81mph in a 40mph limit on the Knockbreda carriageway in Belfast.

• A motorist travelling at 90mph in a 30mph zone on the A2 Garron Road in Glenariff.

• A driver detected at 105mph in a 60mph limit on the Belfast Road at Nutts Corner.

While the operation focused primarily on speeding, with most detections made using Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership safety camera vans, officers also identified a range of other dangerous driving offences.

Police recorded:

• 59 careless driving offences

• 57 construction and use offences

• 45 uninsured drivers

• 18 drink or drug driving detections

• 18 seatbelt offences

• 15 mobile phone offences

‘Drivers must take personal responsibility’

Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson

Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson, Head of the PSNI’s Road Policing Unit, said it remained deeply concerning that many motorists continue to ignore repeated warnings about road safety.

“Despite repeated police appeals for motorists to slow down, there are still drivers speeding. There are still drivers who are not heeding our Fatal Five messaging, drivers who think it’s okay to drink-drive, to not wear a seatbelt, to drive an uninsured car or use your phone while driving.

“Anyone who speeds, who commits any of these offences, is putting their life and the lives of others at risk. It’s unacceptable, and there has to be a societal attitude change towards speeding and road safety in general.

“The attitude ‘it’s not really a crime’, or ‘the worst won’t happen to me’ has to change and people have to take personal responsibility for their actions. Drivers must think what they need to do keep themselves and every other road user safe.”

44 people have died on Northern Ireland’s roads this year

Chief Inspector Simpson said the enforcement campaign comes against the backdrop of another tragic year on Northern Ireland’s roads.

“From the start of the year, 44 lives have been lost on Northern Ireland’s roads and too many people have been left injured as a result of a road traffic collision. Take a moment to think about this.

“These are more than statistics. Each death is a catastrophic loss, with too many people whose lives have been changed in an instant. Actions behind the wheel don’t just affect the driver, they affect other road users too.

“Remember the Fatal Five - slow down, stay off your phone, never drink or drug drive, don’t get distracted and always wear your seatbelt.

“Making sure you do all you can as a driver and road user to ensure your journey is safe should be a priority at all times because the road is something we all share. A little more patience, respect and awareness could save a life.”

The latest enforcement figures underline that speeding and other high-risk driving behaviours remain widespread despite ongoing police campaigns.

With 44 people already killed on Northern Ireland’s roads this year, the PSNI says reducing those numbers depends not only on enforcement but on motorists choosing to drive safely every time they get behind the wheel.