Two ‘R’ drivers apprehended travelling at almost 120mph

THE two young motorists who were apprehended by police after driving at almost 120mph near Dungannon at the weekend, were “gambling with people’s lives.”

That is the view of Douglas Bridge woman, Marie O’Brien who, in 2016, lost two family members to collisions on the A5. Mrs O’Brien, who is also the secretary of Life After, a charity involved in helping people who have lost loved ones on the roads, says the offending motorists – who were both ‘restricted’ drivers – must realise the potential consequences of their actions.

“I think young people don’t realise that they could die in a crash,” she remarked. “They think that going at that speed is fun and that they’re immortal. I think they believe accidents won’t happen – but they can.”

On Saturday night Road Policing officers from Mahon Road stopped two drivers on the M1 in separate incidents in the Dungannon area.

One was detected at 112mph and a short time later another driver was stopped after being detected at 117mph.

“Both were young drivers and both on R plates having not long passed their tests, therefore were restricted to a maximum speed of 45mph,” a police spokesperson explained.

“Each driver will now have their day in court and face the potential of points and/or monetary fine, possible revocation of their licence and possibly a significant increase on their Insurance premiums.

“Young drivers are statistically a higher risk. Speed kills. Don’t gamble with your life or those of other road users.”

In October 2016, Marie O’Brien’s daughter Caoimhe (23) (pictured) was killed when the Ford Focus she was driving crashed on the A5 between Strabane and Derry.

Just two weeks later, further tragedy struck when Marie O’Brien’s brother-in-law, Eugene, was knocked down on the A5 near Newtownstewart.

He was transferred to hospital and was initially put on life support, but passed away on November 7. Yesterday (Sunday), in the wake of the latest reports of speeding, Mrs O’Brien says more must be done to educate young drivers.

“If I was speaking to them I would tell them what happened to us and about the knock on the door in the middle of the night; how it affected our family and how it would affect their family,” she said. “The impact is so big. I would tell them, don’t be gambling with your life and speeding.

“If you have an accident going at that speed, you have no chance.

“What if had an accident and killed a young child or a young family… It’s something that you have to live with your whole life.

“Speeding like that is going to cause accidents… They’re not only gambling with their own lives, they’re gambling with their whole family’s lives and even other people’s lives. Nothing is ever the same after a tragedy.”

• For information about Life After, see the charity’s Facebook page.