- International experience shows static speed cameras lead to drivers reducing speed – speed is a significant contributor to road deaths
- Garda Commissioner Drew Harris requests business case for funding of 100 additional speed cameras.
- Static and average speed cameras are one of a range of Garda technology, enforcement, visibility, and education initiatives to reduce road deaths as part of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.
An Garda Síochána has today announced the locations of nine static speed safety cameras, which are aimed to be fully operational by the end of 2024.
Static-speed safety cameras have been proven internationally to reduce speeding. 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).
The 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.
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.
These cameras will join the average speed cameras for the N3 (Butler’s Bridge), N5 (Swinford), and N2 (Slane), which are expected to be operational in early Q4 2024. There are also 55 safety cameras currently operated via GoSafe vans; this will increase to 58 in the coming weeks.
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.
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 1 km downstream and 100 metres upstream of a static speed camera location.
The average speed cameras on the M7 and Port Tunnel 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.
This is another example of An Garda Síochána 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.
An Garda Síochána 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
Site visits and partnership engagement are ongoing to progress the engineering for the installation of the cameras.
Road users will be advised of the location of static speed safety cameras through road signage.
A Garda spokesperson is not available today. Assistant Commissioner Roads Policing Paula Hilman will be available tomorrow as part of an overall road safety media briefing.
