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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 5

Priority Questions. - Road Safety.

Alan Shatter

Question:

83 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the four fixed speed cameras currently in use by the Garda Síochána and being moved between 20 sites in the Louth-Meath Garda division and in north County Dublin are adequate to counteract excessive speeding and the escalating number of road deaths; when he will furnish resources to the Garda Síochána to acquire additional speed cameras; and the number of prosecutions instituted to date as a consequence of the use of the existing speed cameras and the results of such prosecutions. [24848/01]

I am informed by the Garda authorities that a pilot programme using four fixed speed cameras, operating between 20 camera sites in the Louth-Meath and Dublin metropolitan regions, was introduced in 2000 to establish the effectiveness of such equipment in a mixed speed enforcement strategy, namely in addition to the more traditional traffic policing methods such as high visibility checkpoints.

Under the national strategy on road safety, 1998-2002, a sub-group of the inter-agency high level group on road safety, comprising representatives of my Department, the Department of Environment and Local Government, the Garda National Traffic Bureau and the National Roads Authority, is examining the possible future use of speed camera technology. In this regard, the National Roads Authority has commissioned an evaluation of the effectiveness of the pilot programme and a speed camera technology scoping study, to determine the most effective strategy for the use of speed cameras, from a group of consultants with experience of such systems in Australia and South Africa.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that following receipt of the results of these studies, which are due shortly, the Garda Síochána, in consultation with the high level group on road safety, will be in a position to make a policy decision on the future strategy in relation to Garda use of speed camera technology.

The Garda authorities have sought and obtained my Department's sanction to purchase mobile speed detection equipment such as GATSO – a mobile unit with on board camera, radar and computer facilities, in-car video systems, motor cycle mounted cameras, tripod mounted laser speed detection devices and radar speed guns. My Department gives full consideration to all Garda requests for such equipment.

On the offences detected by the use of the cam eras referred to by the Deputy, I am further informed by the Garda authorities that 30,230 speeding offences were detected using fixed speed cameras in the Louth-Meath and north Dublin areas in 2000. To date, just over 30,000 detections have been made in those areas. The offending drivers are initially pursued by way of fixed penalty notice – on-the-spot fine – in excess of 80% of which are paid voluntarily without recourse to court proceedings.

Additional InformationFurthermore, I refer the Deputy to the current Garda road safety campaign “Operation Lifesaver” which is focusing primarily on speeding, drink driving, seat belt offences and vulnerable road users. In relation to speeding, the number of fines on-the-spot issued nation-wide for this offence was up 214% on 1997, from 71,337 in 1997 to 224,264 in the year 2000. This year to date, more than 250,000 on-the-spot fines for speeding have been issued. I have been assured by the Garda authorities that Garda enforcement in relation to this offence will continue to remain high for the rest of this year and on into 2002.

The House will be aware that there is a range of measures in the national road safety strategy to address the problem of road fatalities. The problem of excessive speeding cannot be solved solely by Garda enforcement and detection, and I would remind drivers to take personal responsibility – slow down, wear a seat belt and do not drink and drive.

Does the Minister agree that in the context of 30,000 detections occurring as a result of only four fixed speed cameras, these cameras have a particularly important role to play in ensuring people do not drive above the speed limit? Does he agree they have an important role to play in reducing the deaths and injuries occurring on our roads? Does he agree in view of the estimate that in excess of 400 people will lose their lives on our roads this year, as tragically happened a similar number of people last year, that there is a need for a substantial number of additional cameras? Does the Minister agree that the four cameras in question are misnamed given that they are being transported by the Garda to 20 different sites throughout a large area and are not so much fixed as ever-travelling? Does he acknowledge that a sensible road safety strategy should result in the installation of a substantial number of additional cameras in fixed locations on a permanent basis to reduce speeding and save lives? Will the Minister explain why gardaí are driving around with four cameras to 20 sites when there should be 20 cameras located at these sites and at other sites throughout the country?

As I indicated earlier, this is a pilot study which is currently being evaluated. In the meantime, resources are being made available to the Garda to purchase relevant equipment to detect speeding offences. The programme "Operation Lifesaver" operated by the Garda is proving very successful.

The number of road deaths has not decreased.

The national strategy on road safety, 1998-2002 has as its objective the reduction of the number of road fatalities by 20% over the period of the plan and is on course towards achieving this. I accept the number of deaths on our roads is unacceptably high and that the problem needs to be tackled further. There is no question but that resources are being made available. As and when information becomes available on the pilot study, decisions will be taken on the extension of the camera technology. I share Deputy Shatter's view that such an extension is warranted.

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