26/11/2010

New Speed Camera Truck Attacked

One of the new mobile speed camera vehicles has been attacked in Dundalk this morning.

An investigation has been launched into the arson attack, which took place at 4.45am this morning on the Dundalk to Carrickmacross Road.

The van and its operator were parked at the side of the road when the operator smelled smoke.

According to reports this morning he alighted from the van before it was engulfed in flames. It is believed a front window was smashed and curtain and seating were set on fire.

The van was completely destroyed in the attack and is sealed off this morning as part of the investigation by gardaí at Dundalk.

An area is surveyed five times by these vans before a camera is placed.

The cameras, which gardaí are calling "mobile safety cameras", will be operating on roads all across Ireland at some 66 locations and be rotated around some 600 identified roads that have been the scenes of tragedy in the past. The cameras, which are being provided by a private company, are mobile units, mounted in clearly marked vans.

Gardaí said the safety cameras will save lives through a reduction in fatal and serious speed related collisions.

At their launch, a Gardaí spokesman said the project aimed to change driver behaviour and to reduce the number of speed related collisions by reducing the speed of vehicles at locations that have a speed related collision history and acting as a deterrent to driving at excessive speeds.

Garda analysis is ongoing and the locations are anticipated to change over time. Officers said they will be updated an online map www.gardai.ie on the Garda website and advise the community accordingly.

(DW)

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