Elliott welcomes Safety Drive aimed at Migrant Motorists
Ulster Unionist Assembly for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA has welcomed the decision by Dungannon PSNI to organise an information event at East Tyrone College, Circular Road, Dungannon at 10.00am on Thursday 6 December 2007 to promote a better understanding of road safety by foreign workers in the district.
Tom said: “There has been a rapid increase in the number of migrant workers coming to live and work in Northern Ireland and none more so than in Dungannon which has probably the highest and most diverse range of nationalities. Many of these migrant workers have many problems to face, housing, employment and language but another problem is the soaring number of accidents / offences involving foreign motorists on Northern Ireland roads.
This event will offer practical advice and help on a wide range of issues, road safety, MOT certificates, speeding, drink driving, insurance, driving licences and fixed penalty offences, interpreters will be in attendance. I would encourage as many people as possible to attend this event.
The most critical time on our roads for many migrant workers is the first few weeks after they have arrived in the UK, as they adapt to the different motoring conditions and I believe it would greatly assist migrant workers if, when they apply for a work permit that they should have the necessary information available to them on road safety / laws that operate in Northern Ireland before they arrive in the country. We have already experienced a number of foreign workers being killed on our roads and anything which can be done to reduce road fatalities should be considered. There is a worrying upward trend in the number of accidents and offences involving migrant workers in the district and the message are not reaching all the different nationalities on the importance of road safety.
After such an appalling weekend of road traffic accidents, which resulted with 6 people being killed, anything that can halt the number of deaths should be considered. The standard of driving by some of our own nationals leaves a lot to be desired and anything which can be done to assist foreign nationals aware of the importance of road safety and laws is very welcome”