A Fermanagh South Tyrone MLA has described how she has seen people driving their cars while applying make-up, eating their breakfast, and using their mobile phones as she made a poignant plea emphasising the importance of road safety. 

Mrs. Deborah Erskine, Democratic Unionist Party MLA for Fermanagh South Tyrone made this plea in the chamber of the Northern Ireland Assembly in the wake of three fatalities on the roads of Fermanagh and South Tyrone within ten days.

“Sadly, people in many homes across Northern Ireland are grieving today due to the tragic loss of a loved one on our roads. The shock of that never leaves you. There is an empty seat at the table and missed family events. Those people cannot be replaced.

“Communities and families have been plunged into heartbreak and grief. I publicly send my condolences to those families and to all those across Northern Ireland who are in that position, she told the chamber.

Mrs. Erskine implored other road users that they also must play their part for safer roads: “Recently, the Executive launched their road safety programme. It is important that we take that seriously and implement it. Unfortunately, the level of fatalities on the roads brings it into sharp focus.

“I cannot say strongly enough from the Chamber that, as road users, we all have a duty to make sure that there is safety on the roads. Our choices on the roads can make the difference between whether you or someone else gets home safely to their family. Improving roads in order to ensure that they are safer can go only so far: it is down to each of us and our own decision-making.

Detailing her own experience of witnessing reckless driving she said: “I travel quite a bit on the roads — on the Westlink, the M1 and roads across Fermanagh and South Tyrone. It is astonishing to see people putting on their make-up, eating their breakfast and using their mobile phone while driving.”

She also shared constituents' concerns: “Recently, somebody told me that they had seen somebody reading a book while driving. As an MLA, each week, I get a number of queries from constituents highlighting the speed of drivers on the roads. It is disgraceful that people disregard the regulations of our roads. Everything can change in an instant — in a split second.”

She concluded: “We must make sure that no families have to suffer the pain and loss of a death due to a road traffic collision. We need to ensure that we send the programme's strong message to Share the Road to Zero.”