Ireland’s first motorway average speed camera active from Monday next

Ireland’s first mainline motorway average speed safety camera system will be in place on the M7 in Tipperary between Junction 26 and Junction 27, both directions (eastbound and westbound), and it will go operational from 07:00hrs next Monday, 25th April 2022.

During the pilot scheme, compliance levels have been monitored but no prosecutions have taken place. That changes from next Monday.

Prior to the installation of the motorway average speed safety camera system compliance with the 120km/h motorway speed limit was below 70 per cent. During the periods of the testing / pilot scheme compliance levels have risen, but remain below 90 per cent.

From 07:00hrs Monday next, vehicles detected driving in excess of the 120km/h posted motorway speed limit will be subject to prosecution.

Prosecution of speeding offences take place by fixed charge notice. The current fixed charge notice is €80 fine accompanied by three penalty points. Further details of the fixed charge notice system are published on the Garda website.

A Garda press release says that the specific locations chosen have been subject to frequent weather-related/micro-climate events (mostly hail) resulting in increased collision frequency in the area.

It goes on to tell us that analysis of traffic data by TII shows that speeding is typical of driver behaviour on low traffic volume sections of the motorway network throughout the country. This type of driver behaviour is very dangerous, and it is compounded during rain or hail showers increasing the potential of serious accidents.

Furthermore, the data identified that speeds are not being appropriately moderated in response to adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain or low road temperatures.