An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s police service, has revealed the installation sites of nine new static speed cameras. These sites have been chosen due to their association with severe and fatal accidents in the past seven years, as revealed by collision and speed data.
The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, has commissioned the creation of a proposal for an additional 100 stationary speed cameras from his road policing unit. These nine newly installed speed cameras, funded by the Garda budget of a projected €2.4 million over the coming 18 months, will enhance the existing speed monitoring network. This network already includes average speed cameras set up on the N3 at Butler’s Bridge, the N5 at Swinford, and the N2 at Slane, which will be functional by year-end.
Currently, GoSafe vans operate 55 safety cameras, and an expansion to 58 is planned within a few weeks. These will operate in conjunction with the newly installed stationary cameras located at various sites across many Counties including Galway, Waterford, Wicklow, Donegal, Carlow, Dublin, Mayo, Cork and Limerick.
2024 has already seen an increase in road fatalities, with 69 deaths reported as of 9 am on Wednesday, marking an increase from the 53 deaths recorded over the same period in 2023.
The effectiveness of static speed cameras has been validated by the Institute of Transport Economics in Norway, which cites a significant reduction in collisions observed within 1km before and 100m after a static speed camera location.
In addition to this, Commissioner Harris has recently implemented a scheme whereby every front-line Garda dedicates 30 minutes of each shift to road policing activities.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has applauded the introduction of the new static cameras and the proposition for an additional 100.
“Technology is an essential element in initiatives aimed at improving road safety and decreasing fatalities. This encompasses stationary cameras, average velocity cameras, and GoSafe vans, and leverages technology to address and potentially counteract these trends” was the commentary provided.
The Commissioner has conveyed a series of measures, one of them being these cameras, along with a direction that uniformed Gardaí allocate 30 minutes of each shift to the policing of roads. The commencement of this operational activity has already led to a surge in the number of breath tests carried out along with fixed charge notices dispensed.
Regrettably, in a tragic single-vehicle mishap on the Doogary Road in Omagh, County Tyrone, a 17-year-old girl and a 19-year-old male driver lost their lives on Tuesday evening.