Vehicle checkpoints were conducted at different times across all four districts in the South Area — Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon; Fermanagh & Omagh; Mid Ulster; and Newry, Mourne & Down — as part of yesterday's Day of Action on Road Safety.

Officers issued 50 penalty notices for speeding and made 23 detections for road-related offences including driving whilst unfit, dangerous and careless driving, and driving while disqualified. Further detections were made for other offences such as possession of drugs and possession of a bladed article.

Police also seized quantities of drugs and carried out a number of searches under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

In addition, a man wanted by police for breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was arrested. Chief Superintendent Norman Haslett said: "Just some of the results of yesterday's Day of Action show just how risky the behaviour of some motorists on our roads continues to be. Many of those detected yesterday were driving above the speed limit, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving carelessly and even dangerously, it just beggars belief.

"Our efforts to address the tragically high numbers of deaths on local roads will continue over the coming days and weeks and local people can expect to see police officers out on the ground proactively carrying out further road safety operations but everyone needs to play their part.

"Sadly almost half of those who lost their lives this year have been killed on the roads of South Area and we need to do everything we can to stop the numbers from climbing any higher.

"Once again I ask that people pay attention to the Fatal Five - speeding, drink/drug driving, not wearing seat belts, careless driving and using mobile phones while driving.

"If we each begin to take more personal responsibility for our actions and do things a little differently, we can make our roads a much, much safer place for all of us."