Gardaí announce locations for nine new static speed cameras throughout Ireland
An Garda Síochána has announced the locations of nine static speed safety cameras throughout Ireland, all of which are aimed to be fully operational by the end of 2024.
The new cameras will be installed at the following locations, which were selected based on fatal and serious injury collision data from the last seven years and speed data, as well as feedback from stakeholders.
- 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
Site visits and partnership engagement are ongoing to progress the engineering for the installation of the cameras in the above locations. 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. Static-speed safety cameras have been proven internationally to reduce speeding, which is one of the main contributors to road deaths.
In 2024 alone, 69 people have lost their lives on Irish roads compared to 53 in the same period last year, prompting calls for greater enforcement of road policing measures.
The nine new cameras will join the average speed cameras for the N3 (Butler’s Bridge – Cavan), N5 (Swinford – Mayo), and N2 (Slane – Meath), which are expected to be operational in early 2025. The number of safety cameras currently operated via GoSafe vans will also increase from 55 to 58 in the coming weeks.
11/12/2020 A GoSafe speed detection van in operation on the N4 (stock pic)
Furthermore, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has requested that the Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing develop a business case for the introduction of a further 100 static speed cameras in Ireland. 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.
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.”
Recent statistics have illustrated the effectiveness of such speed cameras elsewhere. According to the Institute of Transport Economics, Norway, for example, there were statistically significant reductions in collisions within 1 km downstream and 100 metres upstream of a static speed camera location.
The average speed cameras on the M7 and Port Tunnel, meanwhile, have already proven effective in reducing speed.
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.
An Garda Síochána says that the speed cameras are the latest example of an investment in technology to support road safety in Ireland. Other examples include a mobility device that every front-line Garda has that enables them to issue fixed charge notices at the roadside and check vehicle details.
There has also 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. The initiative is based on international research and successful implementation in Sweden, which is a world leader in road safety.
An Garda Síochána says it is committed to reducing road deaths by working with partners as per the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.
Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.