PSNI stock image (Image: Press Eye) Stay on top of the headlines from Belfast and beyond by signing up for FREE email alerts More Newsletters Subscribe Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Stay on top of the headlines from Belfast and beyond by signing up for FREE email alerts Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Police have urged drivers to slow down, pay attention and stop taking risks as the amount of people who have died on the roads has increased. It comes as new figures reveal tha t 46 people have already lost their lives on Northern Ireland's roads this year - that's 18 more compared to the same time period last year. On just one day alone, Saturday August 12, one driver was arrested after being stopped travelling at 104 mph - he was also found to be under the influence of alcohol. Read more: Man hospitalised as PSNI investigate 'hit and run' involving BMW 5 Series Meanwhile a restricted (R) driver was also prosecuted for driving at 96mph when the maximum speed they should have been travelling at was 45mph. PSNI Chief Inspector Graham Dodds, Head of Road Policing, said: “Tragically, 46 people have already lost their lives on our roads this year. That is 18 more compared to the same time period last year, which is quite shocking. “Many more people have suffered serious and sometimes life-changing injuries. Every time you hear about a fatal or serious collision on the news, there is a family, a circle of friends, a community plunged into mourning. “These figures show that we as a society are still not taking road safety seriously enough. The responsibility for making our roads a safer place remains one that we all share. “Inattention and speed, or more accurately, excessive speed for the conditions and drink or drug driving, are consistently the principal causes of the most serious road traffic collisions in which people are killed or seriously injured on roads in Northern Ireland.” Read More Related Articles PSNI hunt Lexus driver and passenger after occupants failed to stop for police Read More Related Articles Ballycastle crash involving motorbike and car claims life of 19-year-old man He added: “Speeding is not just a low-level crime, it’s dangerous. It is a serious threat to other road users. Speeding causes crashes. In a crash the most vulnerable thing on the road is you. “Removing excess speed from the road safety equation should be the easiest thing that every road user can do. “If we all stop speeding, more people live. If we all stop speeding, fewer people have to contend with life-changing injuries. “Reducing deaths and serious injury on our roads is a policing priority and we will continue to target the small minority of people who continue to disregard the laws, whether speeding, driving without due care and attention, not wearing seatbelts, driving after taking drink or drugs, or driving while using a mobile telephone. “We all share the responsibility to prevent deaths and serious injuries on our roads.” Join our new WhatsApp community today Click this link or scan the QR code to receive breaking news and top stories from Belfast Live. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter . Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow BelfastLive Facebook Twitter Comment More On PSNI Traffic and travel