Traffic police from all over the world are converging on Belfast today for a major conference aimed at ending the carnage on roads.
More than 40,000 lives are lost each year on Europe’s roads, including hundreds in Ireland.
Traffic police and experts from Europe, Australia and the US will present research from cities worldwide on programmes to curb the death toll.
Northern Ireland Environment Minister Mr Sam Foster called for urgent action to come out of the event to tackle the major causes of speed, drink-driving and not wearing seatbelts.
"We all face a major global problem, with 3,000 people per day being killed on the world's roads and over 40,000 people per year losing their lives within the European Union" he said.
A joint Garda/RUC presentation will outline the increasing co-operation across European borders in police in detecting traffic violations.
RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan said the two forces welcome the chance to work together to improve road safety. "On two occasions now we have linked up on cross-border initiatives: in the areas of drink driving and the wearing of seatbelts," he said.
Other topics to be discussed will be drug testing drivers, speed cameras, civil liberties issues and the possibility of pan-European traffic laws and cross-border licence endorsements.
PA