NI male drivers more dangerous behind the wheel

MALE drivers in Northern Ireland are more dangerous behind the wheel — accounting for 81% of all traffic offences last year, police figures show.

The PSNI statistics reveal men were responsible for 38,187 out of 47,077 offences detected in 2020.

Despite the pandemic reducing traffic volume, speeding offences also shot up by almost a fifth (18%) to 8,995, with male drivers detected on 6,540 occasions.

The worst offenders recorded top speeds of 130mph on the M1 Motorway near Portadown, as well as on the Ballyquin Road in Limavady. According to the report, speeding detections peaked during the summer months, despite reduced traffic volumes.

Experts have suggested that lower congestion and quieter roads increased the temptation to speed.

Mobile phone offences also reflected the gender imbalance, with men detected in 2,876 out of 3,436 offences.

A total of 2,371 men were also detected for drink or drug driving, compared to 569 women.

Careless driving offences saw 2,854 men detected compared to 779 women, while 919 men were caught driving while disqualified compared to 66 women.

Other figures showed that with many vehicle tests postponed in 2020, test certificate offences also dropped by nearly three-quarters (73%).

Insurance offences rose by 3% to 8,448 offences, with 319 more driving licence offences at 4,255.

Overall, a total of 60% of offences resulted in referral for prosecution, while 37% resulted in a fixed penalty fine of £60. Another 3% of offending drivers took a speed awareness course.

Breaking offences down by age groups, 30 to 49-year-olds were responsible for the most offences at 19,760 (42%).

By district areas, Belfast City recorded the highest level of traffic offences at 8,470 while Ards & North Down had the lowest at 1,617.

When recording overall offences per 10,000 population, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon had the highest density by far at 427 with Ards & North Down the lowest at 123.

Using the same scale, Antrim & Newtownabbey had the highest rate of speeding offences (107), with Ards & North Down (20) recording the lowest.

Derry City & Strabane had the highest proportion of mobile phone offenders at 40 per 10,000 people, with 13 in Belfast City and just four in Ards & North Down.

81% of all traffic offences in Northern Ireland last year caused by males