LIMERICK is one of nine locations where Gardaí plan to locate new static speed cameras as part of a nationwide rollout to reduce speed and deaths on the roads.
The Limerick camera will be on the N69, it has been revealed, with other new cameras located at the N59 (Galway), N25 (Waterford), R772 (Wicklow), N14 (Donegal), N80 (Carlow), Dublin (Dolphin’s Barn), N17 (Mayo), and N22 (Cork).
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, Gardaí say.
The nine static speed cameras are being funded from the Garda budget at a cost of approximately €2.4million over the next 18 months and will be fully operational by September.
There are also 55 safety cameras currently operated via GoSafe vans, which will increase to 58 in the coming weeks.
In addition, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has requested that the Assistant Commissionerof Roads Policing develop a business case for the introduction of a further 100 static speed cameras.
This business case will form part of An Garda Síochána’s application for its overall funding in 2025.
Assistant Commissioner of Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Paula Hilman, said that “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 in Norway, there were statistically significant reductions in collisions within one kilometre 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, Gardaí say.
As with GoSafe vans, drivers detected by static speed cameras breaking the speed limit will be automatically issued a fixed charge penalty notice.
