Static speed safety cameras are back
An Garda Síochána has announced the locations of nine static speed safety cameras. These are aimed to be fully operational by the end of 2024.
Gardaí say that static-speed cameras have been proven internationally to reduce speeding. Adding that speeding is one of the main contributors to road deaths.
The cameras will be located on the N59 (Galway), N25 (Waterford), R772 (Wicklow), N14 (Donegal), N80 (Carlow), Dublin (Dolphin’s Barn), N17 (Mayo), N22 (Cork), and N69 (Limerick). See more details below.
Gardaí say that locations were selected based on fatal and serious injury collision data from the last seven years and speed data, as well as feedback from stakeholders. It adds that road users will be advised of the location of static speed safety cameras through road signage.
The nine static speed cameras are being funded from the Garda budget at a cost of approximately €2.4 million over the next 18 months. Site visits and partnership engagement are ongoing to progress the engineering for the installation of the cameras.
100 more static speed cameras possible
In addition, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has requested that Assistant Commissioner Roads Policing develop a business case for the introduction of a further 100 static speed cameras. This business case will then form part of An Garda Síochána’s application for its overall funding in 2025 as part of the Estimates Process.
More ‘Average Speed’ Cameras on the way too
These new static speed cameras will be joined by three more ‘average speed’ cameras for the N3 (Butler’s Bridge, Co. Cavan), N5 (Swinford, Co. Mayo), and N2 (Slane, Co. Meath), which are expected to be operational in early Q4 2024.
There are already two average speed cameras operational in the Republic. There are on a part of the M7 near Birdhill, in Co Tipperary, and at the Dublin Tunnel, between Dublin Port and the M50, near Santry. The average speed cameras on these two locations have already proven effective in reducing speed, according to Gardaí.
GoSafe camera van numbers also to increase
There are also 55 safety cameras currently operated via GoSafe vans; this will also see an increase to 58 in the coming weeks.
Speaking today, Assistant Commissioner Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Paula Hilman, said, “Static speed safety cameras have been proven in other countries to be highly effective in changing driver behaviour and reducing speed, which is a key contributor to road deaths. Speed cameras slow drivers down. The lower speeds people drive at, the lower the number of road deaths.”
According to the Institute of Transport Economics, Norway, there were statistically significant reductions in collisions within 1km downstream and 100 metres upstream of a static speed camera location.
As with GoSafe vans, drivers detected by static speed cameras breaking the speed limit on that road will be automatically issued a fixed charge penalty notice.
Gardaí say this is another example of investing in technology to support road safety. Such investment includes a mobility device that every front-line Garda has that enables them to issue fixed charge notices at the roadside and check vehicle details.
In addition, there has been investment in new hand-held speed detection devices, drug detection devices, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, and roads policing vehicles.
Following additional Government funding for Go Safe hours in 2023, An Garda Síochána has committed €5.1 million to increase the hours of operation of GoSafe detection vans, with a focus on locations with high levels of collisions for the next 18 months from May 2024 to October 2025.
Commissioner Harris has also recently introduced an initiative where every front-line Garda carries out 30 minutes of roads policing activity per shift. This initiative is based on international research and successful implementation in Sweden, which is a world leader in road safety.
30% more road fatalities this year so far
As of this morning (1st May) on the Garda Síochána website, 69 people have been killed on our roads. That is 16 (30%) more than in the first four months of last year (2023) – a national crisis. There have been 15 more tragic collisions in the first third of the year compared to the same period last year. Of the road deaths so far this year, 26 were drivers, 19 passengers, 12 pedestrians, nine motorcyclists, and three pedal cyclists.
An Garda Síochána says that it is committed to reducing road deaths by working with partners as per the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.
The Government’s Road Safety Strategy Phase 1 Action Plan (2021- 2024) involves 186 actions for delivery by the partners to the Strategy under the seven Safe System priority intervention areas: safe roads and roadsides, safe speeds, safe vehicles, safe road use, post-crash response, safe and healthy modes of travel, and safe work related road use.
The locations for the nine static speed safety cameras are:
– Galway, N59, between Moycullen and Galway City
– Waterford, N25, between Glenmore and Luffany
– Wicklow, R772, Arklow Road, Aske, north of Gorey
– Donegal, N14, east of Letterkenny
– Carlow, N80, between Barristown and Levitstown
– Dublin, Crumlin Road/Parnell Road/Dolphin Road/Dolphin’s Barn Junction
– Mayo, N17, northeast of Claremorris
– Cork, N22, east of Lissarda, west of Ovens
– Limerick, N69, east of Askeaton
