The Garda has verified that the new average speed cameras will be operational on the N2, N3, and N5 motorways later this year in fall. These type of cameras monitor vehicles at two different points at a specific distance apart, marking the precise time a vehicle bypasses each camera. This method assists the Garda to accurately determine a vehicle’s speed over extended stretches, contrasting to a single, stationary camera.
The N2 is a major national route commencing from Dublin and directly leading to the border of Northern Ireland near Aughnacloy in Co Tyrone. A stretch near Dublin is identified as a motorway, also known as the M2. Additionally, the N3, another national primary route, starts from Dublin and proceeds to Cavan and the boundary with Co Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. A section passing through Co Meath is termed as the M3 that further extends north of Kells and resumes as the N3 to Co Cavan and the Northern Ireland Border at Co Fermanagh. Post Fermanagh, the route continues to Ballyshannon in Co Donegal as the N3.
Moreover, the N5 — another main national route — links Longford Town with Westport in Co Mayo. The final placements for these new average speed cameras are under formation by the Garda and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), where the assessment includes the potential for hazardous speeds and the count of accidents on the respective roads.
On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Eamon Ryan, Minister for Transport, noted that average speed cameras have cut down road fatalities in Scotland. He also confirmed that a review of the Road Safety Authority is in progress, due to the rise in road deaths and the crucial need to consistently refine and grow our establishments.
“It is necessary for improvement and we need to aid the process, ensuring it is well-resourced, has enough staff and is perfectly scoped. There is always room for improvement, especially when the numbers of road deaths are escalating,” he stated.
The Garda is set to address the increasing number of road fatalities by deploying nine static speed cameras by late 2024, with the aim of making them operational by early 2025. The position for these speed measurement devices, capable of recording the speed of passing vehicles at a single point, is to be finalised later this month.
Currently, only two areas in the State, a section of the M7 near Birdhill in Co Tipperary and the Dublin Tunnel connecting Dublin Port and the M50 near Santry, are monitored by average speed cameras. Speeding incidents have significantly declined in these areas since their deployment.
Funding for such technology will be provided from the Garda Vote (the budget), as specified by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, and no other State body will be contributing to this. The Garda portrays these actions as a part of their continued efforts to utilise technology to promote road safety. Indeed, all front-line Garda officers are equipped with mobility devices that allow roadside issuance of fixed charge notices and facilitate vehicle detail checks.
Moreover, investments have been made in new handheld speed and drug detection tools, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, and roads policing vehicles. Commissioner Harris recently pledged to devote at least half-an-hour per shift of every uniformed Garda officer towards road safety measures.
As a result of additional government funding, the service hours of the privately managed GoSafe detection vans have been extended. These focus on areas prone to high collision rates. A new contract inviting expressions of interest for private speed camera operation anticipates an increase in mobile van-based monitoring. Worth up to €206 million, the contract will span eight years.
In February, Peter Walsh, the Chief Executive of TII, announced the availability of €298 million in exchequer grants intended for current and road protection and renewal projects for this year.