New speed cameras for local bypass

Drivers using the Dublin-Galway motorway are likely to be caught unawares by speed cameras on the Athlone bypass, on which a lower speed limit applies. Drivers on the M6 can drive at 120 kilometres per hour at present, but on arrival on the Athlone bypass or relief road as it is also known, the speed limit falls to 100 kilometres per hour. As the bypass is effectively part of the motorway, many drivers are likely to be unaware of the changed speed limit. The choice of the bypass as one of 22 sites in Westmeath where the speed cameras will be erected has sparked fears that many drivers will fall foul of cameras simply because they were unaware of the speed limit reductions. Many motorists will feel that the selection of the bypass will lead to a large revenue from fines. The roll-out of the privately-operated system of mobile speed Gatso camera vans in 22 different sites in Westmeath, 13 in Roscommon and 19 in Longford, led to the www.garda.ie website crashing as motorists on Monday and yesterday (Tuesday) as motorists clamoured to see what stretches the cameras are earmarked for. In Westmeath, other areas to be targeted include a portion of the old N6 from Athlone to Moate and the R446 old Dublin road through Tubber, the busy N55 from Athlone to Tang road and the Moate to Horseleap stretch of the old N6, along with the R392 road from Ballymahon to Mullingar and the N62 Athlone to Birr road. In Roscommon, cameras will be in operation along the R446 through Clonark, Cornafulla and Ballyforan, along with the R357 from Ballinasloe towards Taughmaconnell while, in Longford motorists will have to watch their speed gauge on the N55 Ballymahon to Carrickboy road and the R392 Terlicken to Forgney road. Gardai and road safety campaigners say the safety cameras will save lives through a reduction in fatal and serious speed related collisions. There are 518 zones across Ireland where safety cameras will operate and each zone may contain one or more sites in which the safety cameras which will be clearly marked will operate. Anyone caught speeding will receive a fine and two penalty points. A county-by-county breakdown of the zones was to be available on the www.garda.ie website but due to a vast numbers attempting to access the site since the weekend, it has crashed. However, a map of locations where the safety cameras will be operating is now available at www.garda.ie/gosafe.html. The map can also be accessed by visiting www.facebook.com and searching for the term garda, which will lead you to the Garda Facebook page. A local Garda spokesperson in Athlone welcomed the start of the speed cameras operation locally on Monday night, which they hope will ultimately save lives. “We hope people will slow down and not break the speed limits as a result,†he said. Also praising the introduction of speed cameras along the busy N55 stretch from Athlone to Tang was Fine Gael Cllr Joe Flanagan, who said this week that anything slows motorists down is to be welcomed. “If it saves one life, it's a good idea,†he stressed. “I drive a lot, over 40,000 miles a year and it's incredible the chances the people take and the awful speed on ordinary roads,†Cllr Flanagan said, pointing out that he has been shocked by the recent speed of vehicles in the Tang area. The Fine Gael councillor said if this first tranche of speed cameras was a success, he suspected more would become a feature of stretches of road in the local areas in the future, something he would be happy to see. “I'd like to see some on county roads where there is a 80 km speed limit and unfortunately people are passing no remarks,†pointing out that road into Ballymore is case in point where he described the speeds approaching the village as “incredibleâ€. “It's terrible though that there has to be accident before it is tackled,†he concluded. An Garda Síochána has contracted the GoSafe Consortium which secured the contract to operate the cameras following a procurement process and the locations have been identified as having a high incidence of speed related collisions. As well as enforcing vehicle speeds, the cameras will carry out surveys of the speed of vehicles at the locations, so as to ensure that the cameras are deployed where they are most needed. On completion of the roll-out early in 2011, the network will provide 6,000 hours of monitoring and 1,475 hours of surveying per month. The service provider will 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. Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority, Noel Brett said everyone knows that driving too fast increases your risk of being involved in a serious or fatal collision. “Yet, every year, approximately one third of road deaths are caused by speeding. Last year alone 80 people died on our roads because of this killer behaviour and up to 1,000 people suffered serious injuries such as broken spinal cords, brain injuries and loss of limbs.†“Safety Cameras are proven life savers. In countries where a safety camera network has been introduced, deaths and injuries as a result of speeding have dropped significantly. I compliment the gardaí on implementing this life saving project and look forward to a marked reduction in deaths and injuries on our roads. It's also a voluntary system - everyone has a choice, we can slow down and save a life or we can speed and at best risk penalty points and a fine or at worst risk your life and the lives of others. It's your choice, it's that simple.†The safety cameras will operate during day and night-time hours, regardless of weather conditions. It is intended that in general the camera vans will be marked and will operate overtly on the designated stretches nationwide. For further information check www.garda.ie