“These are catastrophic losses” — PSNI warning after hundreds caught on NI roads

Hundreds of drivers were caught committing road traffic offences across Northern Ireland during the Easter holiday weekend, with police recording 667 speed detections, 43 drink or drug driving arrests, and dozens of motorists driving uninsured or distracted behind the wheel.

The figures, released as provisional statistics by the PSNI as of 14 April, relate to offences detected between Friday morning, 3 April, and midnight on Monday, 6 April, during the force’s Easter road safety campaign.

Police say the scale of offending remains deeply concerning, particularly against the backdrop of 22 road deaths across Northern Ireland since the start of 2026.

The latest enforcement figures show that despite repeated public safety messaging, large numbers of motorists continue to take serious risks on the roads.

Speeding offences dominate Easter campaign detections

Speeding accounted for the overwhelming majority of offences detected over the four-day operation.

A total of 667 speed detections were made across Northern Ireland during the Easter holiday period.

Of these, 621 were recorded by Road Safety Camera Vans, which were deployed at locations across the region as part of the targeted enforcement campaign.

The remaining detections were made through direct police operations and patrol activity.

The figures underline the continuing problem of excessive speed on Northern Ireland’s roads, one of the PSNI’s so-called Fatal Five causes of serious and fatal collisions.

Drink and drug driving arrests remain a major concern

Police also made 43 arrests for drink or drug driving offences during the same period.

The arrests, made over a single holiday weekend, have prompted renewed warnings from road policing officers about the potentially devastating consequences of impaired driving.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs remains one of the most serious offences targeted by PSNI road safety operations, particularly during holiday periods when traffic volumes and social activity often increase.

Uninsured, distracted and unbelted drivers also detected

Alongside speeding and intoxicated driving offences, police detected a range of other road safety breaches.

The provisional figures show:

• 42 detections for driving without insurance

• 10 drivers caught using a mobile phone while behind the wheel

• 6 motorists detected not wearing a seatbelt

Each of these offences is directly linked to collision risk and driver safety.

Using a mobile phone while driving, failing to wear a seatbelt, and driving without valid insurance all remain persistent enforcement issues across Northern Ireland.

Police: drivers are making dangerous choices

Head of Road Policing, Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson, said the figures — while still subject to change — show that too many people continue to make reckless decisions on the roads.

She said:

“Anyone who chooses to get into a car and drive when intoxicated, or chooses not to wear a seatbelt, drives dangerously or carelessly, or is using their phone behind the wheel, does so because they don’t think the worst will ever happen to them.

“They’ve made a choice, and it’s these type of choices that risk the lives of drivers, their passengers and other road users.”

The comments come as police continue to intensify messaging around driver responsibility and preventable deaths.

Stark reminder after 22 road deaths this year

Chief Inspector Simpson also issued a direct appeal to motorists across Northern Ireland, warning that road safety cannot be left to chance.

She said:

“To drivers and road users, you are responsible for your own safety and that of other road users. Safe driving is not down to luck. It requires discipline and your 100 per cent focus on the road at all times.

“Tragically, 22 people have died on roads across Northern Ireland since the start of 2026. This is more than a statistic. These are catastrophic losses for everyone impacted.

“We can and must do more to help reduce the number of injuries and deaths on our roads, and our Fatal Five campaign must become your daily reminder of what you need to do to stay safe.

“Stay focused, control your speed, put down your phone, never drink or drug drive, don’t get distracted and always wear your seatbelt.”

The PSNI’s Fatal Five campaign focuses on the five main causes of serious collisions and fatalities: speeding, drink or drug driving, distraction, failure to wear a seatbelt, and careless or dangerous driving.

With Easter enforcement figures already running into the hundreds, police are again urging drivers across Northern Ireland to treat every journey with caution.

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At a glance

• PSNI detected hundreds of driving offences during Easter weekend campaign

• Enforcement period ran from 3 April to 6 April

• 667 speeding detections recorded across Northern Ireland

• 621 of those were captured by camera vans

• 43 arrests made for drink or drug driving

• 42 drivers detected with no insurance

• 10 motorists caught using mobile phones

• 6 drivers detected not wearing seatbelts

• 22 people have died on NI roads since start of 2026

• PSNI renews Fatal Five safety warning