Average Safety Cameras Operational on N5 Co. Mayo and N3 Co. Cavan from Friday, 25th October 2024

• From midday on Friday, 25th October 2024, Average Safety Cameras will be operational along the N5 in Swinford, Co. Mayo and the N3, Co. Cavan
• Those found exceeding the designated speed limit to face fixed charge penalty notice fine of €160 and three penalty points

As part of An Garda Síochána’s commitment to reducing road deaths and improving safety, two new Average Safety Cameras will become operational from midday on Friday at locations on the N5 in Swinford, Co. Mayo and the N3 in Co. Cavan.

The cameras on the N5 are located between Lislackagh and Cuilmore in Swinford. On the N3, they have been installed between Kilduff and Billis in Co Cavan. They operate in both directions.

Speed is a significant contributor to road deaths and a cause in 30% of fatal collisions.

Average Safety Cameras work by monitoring a vehicle's speed over the distance of the Safety Camera Zone, rather than at a single point.  The speed is not recorded at the cameras at the entry and exit of the safety camera zone.

They are intended to change driver behaviour, reduce the average speed of road users and the number of collisions that occur, making roads safer for all road users and decreasing the impact of speed on local communities.

International studies have found that speed cameras can influence a reduction in collisions and the severity of collisions through the ‘halo effect’ – where drivers have been found to reduce speed due to the presence of speed or safety cameras.

Commissioning, testing, and validation of the cameras got underway earlier this month.

From midday on Friday, vehicles detected driving in excess of the 100km/h posted speed limit will be subject to prosecution.

Surveys carried out before work began and after civil works were completed for the new cameras on the N5 and N3 have already demonstrated the halo effect, with significant increases in driver compliance.

Prosecution of speeding offences takes place by Fixed Charge Notice. The current Fixed Charge Notice is €160 fine accompanied by 3 penalty points.

A further Average Safety Camera Zone will be completed by end of 2024 and become operational in Q1 2025. 6 Static Safety Cameras will be operational before end of 2024 and a further 3 Static Safety Cameras in Q1 2025. These 3 Average Safety Camera zones and 9 Static Safety Cameras are funded directly from An Garda Síochána budget.

Speaking at Garda Headquarters, Commissioner Drew Harris said:

"An Garda Síochána remains committed to road safety and average safety cameras have been shown to reduce speed and impact positively on driver behaviour. The addition of two new average safety camera locations along the N5 and N3 will add to the suite of measures already being undertaken by An Garda Síochána in the area of improving road safety.

"I’m pleased to say that we will have a further six static safety cameras live by the end of this year, with a further three static cameras coming on stream in the first quarter of 2025.”

Minister Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice said:

"Every life lost on the road is a tragedy for the victim’s family, community, and for all of society.

"After many years of success in reducing fatalities on our roads, the recent increase in fatalities represents a serious issue for the whole country. Government is determined to reverse this. Average speed cameras are a hugely valuable and welcome addition to the measures we have already put in place, to keep everyone on our roads safe.

"An Garda Síochána continue to enforce road traffic legislation, and the Government’s consistent and growing support through Budget 2025 will help bring more Gardaí into specialist units such as the Roads Policing Units, as well increasing the number of frontline Gardaí generally. During 2023 frontline Gardaí (excluding full time roads policing Gardaí) were responsible for 70% of Driving Under the Influence detections and 25% of the enforcement of Mobile Phone, Seatbelt and Speeding offences.

"Gardaí are taking an innovative approach with the introduction of the new lorry cab to help detect distracted driving, and each Garda member now undertakes 30 minutes of roads policing on every shift.

"While the efforts of Gardaí are vital, technology can play an effective role in changing behaviours. I welcome the roll out of these two average speed cameras this week, and the ongoing roll out of static speed cameras. Along with my Government colleagues, we will continue to pursue a multifaceted and whole-of-Government approach to making our roads safer for all.”

Minister James Lawless, Minister of State at the Department of Transport and at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications said:

"I believe the introduction of average speed cameras can improve road safety and ultimately save lives. Today I am pleased to see it announced that we will see two new safety camera systems commence operation on the N5 and N3 national roads. This continues the pilot programme which will see over half a dozen safety cameras operational by the year end, with many more to come in 2025, something to be greatly welcomed as part of the Vision Zero 2050 plan.”

Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing, Paula Hilman, said:

 "These camera sites have been chosen because they have been identified as high collision sites, with numerous road traffic collisions involving injury, serious injury and fatalities occurring along these routes. Research has shown that the presence of average safety cameras has the effect of increasing compliance with speed limits, and this then ultimately has a positive impact on road safety in such locations.”

Background Information:

Further Information on Safety Cameras can be found on the Garda website: Safety Cameras Save Lives.

First introduced in the M50 Dublin Port Tunnel (2017) and on the M7 (2022) between Junction 26 and Junction 27 (9km stretch), average safety cameras are effective in leading drivers to reduce their speed.

However some drivers continue to ignore the warnings.

In the last three years, since 2022, over 22,500 Fixed Charge Notices have been issued in the M7 Average Safety Camera system.

In the last three years, since 2022, nearly 7,000 Fixed Charge Notices have been issued in the M50 Dublin Port Tunnel Average Safety Camera System.

M7, between Junction 26 and Junction 27 (9km zone)

*Figures are operational, provisional and subject to change

M50, Dublin Port Tunnel (5km zone)

*Figures are operational, provisional and subject to change

The average daily traffic volume on the M7 (J26 – J27) is 20,000+ vehicles.

The average daily traffic volume through the M50, Dublin Port Tunnel is 26,500+ vehicles.

What is an average safety camera?

Average safety cameras work by monitoring a vehicle's speed over a certain distance, rather than at a single point. Unlike static safety camera detection which measures the motorists speed at one particular point along the road, average safety cameras monitor a driver’s average speed while driving between two points.

How do average safety cameras work?

Average safety cameras use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to record the time, date, and location of each vehicle that passes through an entry and exit point.

Drivers detected exceeding the speed limit i.e. travelling from point A to point B too quickly, are issued with a Fixed Charge Notice which, when processed, assigns three penalty points to the driver’s licence and a fine of €160, or €240 if not paid within 28 days.

Why use average safety cameras?

The objective of the cameras is to prevent death and serious injury on Irish roads. Speed is a factor in the severity of outcome of many collisions, and is a cause in 30% of fatal collisions.

They are part of a range of Garda technology, enforcement, visibility, and education initiatives to reduce road deaths as part of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.

Studies conducted in Sweden and Norway have shown that safety cameras can reduce fatal collisions by between 38% and 49%. A London School of Economics Study found fatal collisions decreased by 58% to 68% within 500 metres of safety cameras.

The purchase of infrastructure and operation of these safety cameras is a funded initiative by An Garda Síochána.

The completion of this was only possible with the assistance and cooperation of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Local Authorities, LGMA, ESB and all contractors involved, including groundworks and installation funding.

What is the Halo Effect?

International studies have found speed cameras influence a reduction in collisions and severity of collisions by 20.86% at up to 2,000 metres (Hess, 2004)

Within 1,000 metres fatal and serious injury collisions are reduced by 22% (Hoye 2015, Institute of Transport Economics, Norway)

This area of influence is sometimes called the ‘halo effect’ - it is the area in which drivers have been found to reduce speed due to the presence of a speed/safety camera, which in turn increases relative driver reaction times to reduce collisions and reduces the severity of collisions that do occur.