Gardai answer speed camera questions

The introduction of speed cameras across Ireland is undoubtedly today’s hot topic. Here, the gardaí answer questions on the move.

What is involved in the new safety camera project?

The primary purpose of this initiative is to reduce speed related collisions and save lives. As part of the Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012, the GoSafe consortium has been contracted to operate new safety cameras on our roads on behalf of the Garda organisation.

When will the safety cameras be in operation?

From midnight on Monday 15 November 2010, safety cameras will be on the roads all across Ireland where fatal collisions are happening as a result of inappropriate speed.

Why do we need safety cameras?

The safety cameras will save lives through a reduction in fatal and serious speed related collisions. Excessive or inappropriate speeding continues to be a significant contributory factor in road traffic collisions.

Who will operate the safety cameras?

The safety cameras will be operated by trained GoSafe personnel using a range of vehicles. Safety cameras will be on the roads all across Ireland where fatal collisions are happening as a result of inappropriate speed.

What times of day, days of the week, will they operate at?

The cameras will operate 24 hours, seven days a week.

How will the locations be decided?  Who is responsible for deciding the locations?

An Garda Síochána has completed an extensive analysis of the collision history on the road network.  Sections of road have been identified where a significant proportion of collisions occurred where speed was a contributory factor. The Garda National Traffic Bureau (GNTB) will decide on the locations where the speed cameras will operate.

Do the private operators get paid a bonus based on the number of speeding detections they make?

No. In accordance with the contract, GoSafe will be paid on the basis of enforcement hours and survey hours conducted.

What happens if a motorist drives past one of the safety cameras while exceeding the speed limit?

When a motorist is detected speeding, the offence details and images will be validated and the vehicle registration numbers recorded by GoSafe. The data will then be sent electronically by GoSafe to the Garda IT Section, where it will be uploaded into the Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS).

The motorist will then receive a fixed charge notice in the normal way through the post. This will be administered by the Fixed Charge Processing Office (FCPO), Thurles in the same way as detections made by Garda personnel.

For information on why you should slow down and a list of penalties for speeding, please visit the Garda website, www.garda.ie.

How will people know where the cameras will be?

GoSafe will only operate on sections of road which have a history of collisions occurring where speed was a contributory factor. The areas where the cameras are operating are available on the Garda website.

What will the safety cameras look like?

The cameras will operate from vans which will be marked with high visibility reflective material and display a safety camera symbol.

Do the safety cameras have additional capabilities, compared to the existing Garda speed detection methods?

The camera technology is similar to that currently operated by An Garda Síochána.

Is this a revenue-generating exercise?

No. The key objective of the project is to reduce the number of speed related collisions and therefore save lives. GoSafe will be paid on the basis of enforcement hours and survey hours conducted. The hourly rates to be paid are not linked in any way to the number of detections made.

What is the GoSafe consortium?

Road Safety Operations Ireland - trading as GoSafe - is an Irish Limited Company originally formed to fulfil the requirements of An Garda Síochána for the Provision and Operation of Safety Cameras in Ireland.  GoSafe is owned by three equity partners.

How many detections do you anticipate GoSafe to make during the first month / year of operation?

We’re hoping for none. The objective is to reduce speed and save lives.

Are your other enforcement strategies not working?

Yes, they are. There were 395 people killed on Irish roads in 2005. The number of fatalities has almost halved since then and there has been a declining curve since 2008. One death is one too many and we will continue to use all the resources and technology available to us to reduce the number of fatal and serious collisions on our roads.

The perception of being caught is very low…

That may be the perception but the reality is that there have been over 100,000 detections for speeding this year so far.

How will you measure the success of this project?

The success will be measured based on a reduction in speed across the road network, as well as based on a reduction in the number of fatal and serious collisions on our roads.

Based on the experience with other projects, for example the introduction of penalty points and mandatory alcohol testing, we anticipate that there will be an immediate reduction in speed across the road network followed by a long-term reduction which will lead to saving lives.

What happens if speed and collisions drop?

This is the overall aim of the project so we will view this outcome as a success for the entire community and for the partnership approach which was adopted.

Click here to read the five things we think you should know about the new speed cameras.