A POLICE Inspector has said that drivers are not taking simple precautions on the roads which would stop them from becoming statistics.

Mark Britton of the Roads Policing Unit has issued an appeal to motorists after a number of collisions over the last two mornings.

He said: "I would ask that all drivers do their bit and take notice of what is happening with the weather. It is relatively simple – be slow, be careful and make sure you don't become a statistic.

"There have been a number of road traffic collisions over the last two mornings which tend to suggest that people are not taking these simple precautions.

"It is my opinion that collisions would drop and disruption by having to close roads would also fall if people take heed of what is going on around them."

The Inspector said that motorists must adapt their driving style as the nights turn cold and the road conditions alter.

He also advised people to always clear windscreens and all windows before setting off on any journey.

Inspector Britton continued: "It may sound like common sense but when the road is icy people are still driving as they normally would." 

The Department of Infrastructure is in the process of gritting roads to make them safer for motorists after widespread reports of black ice.