Almost 100,000 drivers caught speeding in 12-month period

Almost 300 people in Northern Ireland are being caught speeding every day, the police have said.

It comes as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) launched Operation Lifesaver, a road safety crackdown focused on tackling speeding.

The initiative comes after police said they have detected close to 100,000 people speeding in 2024.

PSNI Ch Insp Celeste Simpson said it is important that people hear this message.

"An R driver was recently caught driving at 137mph – which is insane considering they are restricted to 45mph," she said.

The PSNI said speeding accounts for 10% of serious and fatal road traffic collisions.

Detectives say the public should expect to see officers conducting road safety operations across Northern Ireland over the Easter holiday period.

This will also involve the deployment of road safety camera vans.

Ch Supt Sam Donaldson said the statistics should scare people.

"It is a serious offence and has serious consequences," he said.

"Over the last two years in Northern Ireland 140 people have lost their lives on our roads – and this year alone a further 12 have lost their lives – and speeding is one of those factors."

He said it is an issue drivers do not take seriously enough.

"Somebody hit at 30mph has a 90% chance of dying – somebody hit at 20mph has a 90% chance of surviving.

"Those are the scary differences."

He added that there is a perception speeding is an issue among younger drivers but that is not the case.

"If we look at the statistics in terms of people being caught by road safety vans, it's middle-aged people as well.

"It's mostly men, so let's not say it's boy racers - it's all ages."

This piece was amended on 17 April 2025.