Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Minister: Speed vans aren't about making money, honest

Dara Murphy denied the cameras are strategically located in areas where speed limits increase.

A JUNIOR MINISTER has taken to the Seanad floor to assure people that speed detection vans are about promoting safer driving, rather than being a money-making exercise.

European Affairs Minister Dara Murphy was speaking on behalf of Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald when he made the comments.

He was responding to independent Senator Fidelma Healy Eames who had asked why speed vans “are not located in dangerous driving black spots but appear to be placed instead in areas where speed limits increase, thus prioritising revenue collection over enabling positive driving behaviour”.

Murphy said that ‘GoSafe’ cameras are located in “designated speed enforcement zones” selected by An Garda Síochána “following an extensive analysis of five years of collision data where speed was deemed the primary contributory factor in the incident”.

Speed-detecting Garda vans are located in additional areas.

Murphy assured the Senator that speed enforcement zones are “continually reviewed in light of survey data, collision history and local feedback”. He said monitoring is also carried out at set times and days based on when collisions occur. A higher weighting, and subsequently more monitoring hours, is assigned to those locations where compliance rates are lowest.

727 detection zones

When speed camera were introduced in November 2010 a total of 518 stretches of road were selected as speed enforcement zones. Since then additional zones have been identified as having a collision history suitable for inclusion, while others no longer merit inclusion based on “changes in driver behaviour”. The total number of zones currently stands at 727.

Between January 2011 and October 2013, compliance in 50 kilometre per hour zones increased from 62% to 98%, with compliance in 80 kilometre zones increasing to 96% in the same period.

“All of the analysis carried out points to the conclusion that the safety cameras have saved lives, and therefore bring enormous human and economic benefits,” Murphy said.

The minster added that “slowing down would have prevented many of [196] fatalities” on Irish roads in 2014.

Speed cameras to be reviewed as system ‘clearly isn’t working

‘I’m doing something for my baby… I’m here for Jake’ – heartbroken mum on her Dáil sleep out

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
53 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Laura Reddy
    Favourite Laura Reddy
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 12:31 PM

    That poor little girl she looks so scared !!:(

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute trickytrixster
    Favourite trickytrixster
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 11:37 AM

    Why put a band in charge anyways

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thierry Ratt
    Favourite Thierry Ratt
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 10:47 AM

    Genocide

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ohaimhirghin
    Favourite ohaimhirghin
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 10:49 AM

    No your just a drama queen

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gary
    Favourite Gary
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 11:35 AM

    “You’re a drama queen”.
    You’re = You are.
    It is your bike/car etc.

    23
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Anth
    Favourite Ryan Anth
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 1:44 PM

    You all mock comments like that now but in the early stages of this story all the more hysterical posts about a worldwide pandemic starting and how they were holding back cures because they don’t care about black people were soaring to the top, just look back and see.
    That’s before getting into the crazier posts about how the yanks had a patent on the ebola virus and it was gonna go airborne any second now…..annnnny second now……annnnny second now…hey look it never happened…will that stop the same people posting hysterical nonsense next time?

    NOPE

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ohaimhirghin
    Favourite ohaimhirghin
    Report
    Mar 20th 2015, 4:07 PM

    Oh that one always gets me. But thank you for pointing that out.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Fitzpatrick
    Favourite David Fitzpatrick
    Report
    Mar 21st 2015, 1:15 PM

    Delayed just long enough to market a cash cow “Vaccine”

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bridget
    Favourite Bridget
    Report
    Mar 21st 2015, 4:23 PM

    Who = vaccine = €$£

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds