Motorists face holiday crackdown

An officer checks the speed of a vehicle

Police have warned that misbehaving motorists will face a crackdown over the bank holiday weekend.

Operation Roadsafe will run from Friday to Monday, and a police helicopter will be deployed to assist patrols.

It will target motorists who drink and drive, speed, use mobile phones while driving, fail to wear seatbelts or who drive without due care and attention.

Officers will also be looking for cars with defects in the operation, which they say is about "robust enforcement".

Chief Superintendent Wesley Wilson said the last Operation Roadsafe in May led to the detection of more than 700 drivers for a range of motoring offences.

"It continues to amaze and sadden police officers that despite countless high-profile road safety operations and numerous public awareness campaigns over the years, there are still some drivers flouting the laws," he said.

He said they wanted to save lives and reduce serious injuries caused by road accidents.

"Since the beginning of the year 81 number of people have died on the roads in Northern Ireland - that is one up on the same period last year," he added.