Cross-border police operation aims to tackle rise in road deaths

Ch Insp Graham Dodds said the amount of road deaths is "tragic and horrifying"

A cross-border police operation is aiming to tackle a rise in the number of road deaths on the island of Ireland this year.

There have been 166 road deaths in the Republic of Ireland and 57 in Northern Ireland so far in 2023.

That is up from 132 and 45 deaths in the same period last year.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and An Garda Síochána conducted a joint checkpoint at the Derry-Donegal border.

Gardaí (Irish police) said the operation, at Bridgend, County Donegal, was the first of its kind between the two police forces.

Ch Insp Graham Dodds, head of PSNI road policing, told BBC News NI the joint operation was all about deterring and detecting speeding.

The initiative is part of National Slow Down Day

He said it was "tragic and horrifying" that there have been 57 road deaths in Northern Ireland so far this year.

"That's 57 homes destroyed, 57 communities affected, workplaces or schools who will never be the same."

To date, 33 people have died on roads in border counties such as Cavan/Monaghan (12), Donegal (nine), Sligo/Leitrim (five) and Louth (seven).

The initiative is part of National Slow Down Day and it aims to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding.

Garda Supt David Kelly says the joint operation is all about reducing the number of road deaths

Garda Supt David Kelly said the joint approach from both the PSNI and An Garda Síochána was a first for the island of Ireland.

"We are working together to try and save lives on the roads," he said.

"There have been too many road traffic collisions, sadly involving fatalities, on the roads this year and we are trying to reduce that.

"By working together on an all-island basis we feel we can achieve more and that's what we are doing here today and it's a first for both organisations."