16/11/2010

Speed Cameras 'Not To Generate Revenue'

The Minister for Transport has denied that the new roll out of speed cameras will generate revenue.

The range of new mobile speed cameras came into operation from last night at some 66 locations throughout Ireland, and will be rotated around some 600 identified roads that have been the scenes of tragedy in the past.

At the launch yesterday, Minister Dermot Ahern said the Government's aim was to change driver behaviour, reduce speed and as a result improve road safety, "it is not to generate revenue either for the State or the service provider."

The Minister said An Garda Síochána had contracted the GoSafe Consortium to operate the cameras following a procurement process, but the company will only be paid on the basis of the number of hours of service provided; the number of speeding drivers detected will have no effect on the level of payment.

Speaking yesterday, Minister Ahern said: "The number of fatalities on our roads has dropped significantly in recent years, reaching the lowest level on record last year. But we cannot afford to be complacent.

"The purpose of these new safety cameras is simple: to save lives and prevent serious injuries on our roads. No more, no less. Excessive speed is still the top killer on Irish roads. These new cameras will help the Gardaí in their efforts to make our roads safer."

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, who also attended the launch, said Garda were appealing to people to slow down and "save a life".

"It could be your own life; it could be someone in your family, your next-door neighbour, a work colleague or someone you’ve never met. If we all work together and slow down, we can and will reduce the number of deaths on our roads,” the commissioner said.

Information on the locations where the cameras will be deployed will be available on the Garda website www.garda.ie. The locations will be those, which have been identified as having a high incidence of speed related collisions.

The cameras, are mobile units, mounted in clearly marked vans.

Areas to pay careful attention will be city centre 30kph zones, as well as Sutton, Clontarf, Ballymun, Finglas, Donnybrook, Sandymount, Lough-linstown and many more areas.

In Dublin city centre, North Wall Quay, Wolfe Tone Quay and O'Connell Street Lower are among the roads which will have cameras. They will also be stationed on the Chapelizod Bypass and Donnybrook Road.

(DW)

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