In November, 2009 a contract was concluded for the provision of an outsourced safety camera network to An Garda Síochána. The objective of the network is to reduce the number of speed related collisions and so save lives, as excessive or inappropriate speeding is a major factor in road traffic collisions and fatalities.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in preparation for the roll out of the network, An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with the National Roads Authority, carried out an extensive analysis of the collision history of the road network, as a result of which sections of road were identified where a significant proportion of collisions where speed was deemed the primary contributory factor occurred. Based on this analysis, a list of speed enforcement zones has been developed, with the aim of providing information to motorists in order to raise awareness of the danger of speeding in these zones. An Garda Síochána utilises this information to direct speed enforcement activity in a proportionate and targeted manner. Information on the location of these speed enforcement zones is publicly available on the Garda website www.garda.ie.
Surveys are conducted on an ongoing basis to ensure that the safety cameras continue to be deployed on roads which are identified as being subject to inappropriate speed and where fatal and injury collisions occur.
It is also the objective of the safety cameras directly operated by An Garda Síochána to reduce the number of speed-related collisions and so save lives.