370 new locations to be targeted by mobile speed cameras

More than 300 new locations, the majority on local and regional roads, are to be targeted by mobile speed cameras, and local authorities have been asked to identify additional accident black spots.

The review is being carried out by An Garda Síochána and the National Roads Authority.

The number of existing active camera zones is 727 across the country's roads and while 50 existing locations are being removed, some 370 new locations are being identified, a meeting of Kerry County Council was told on Monday.

The information was disclosed on foot of a motion at a meeting Monday morning of Kerry County Council by Fine Gael councillor John Sheahan. Cllr Sheahan said not enough sites were being targeted by speed vans in Kerry.

Motorists were not being detected outside of the 29 existing zones in Kerry and speed vans needed to become mobile, moving from place to place, he said.

There was no morning cars that were not “flying” on the main Tralee to Killarney road, slowing down only at the speed zones.

“People are speeding outside camera zones,” Cllr Sheahan said.

Litter pickers on roads in Kerry and Cork were regularly in danger from speeding motorists, despite wearing high visibility jackets.

Director of roads services for the county council, Charlie O’Sullivan said the Garda Safety Camera Project, which began in 2010, saw deployment of mobile safety cameras had been a key action in national road safety strategy . It aimed to cut fatalities on roads to 126 by 2020.

“There has been a significant reduction in speeding offences in safety camera zones from 175 per cent when the project started to 3.5 per cent in recent days,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

There are 29 Go Safe Zones (Speed Camera Zones) in Kerry.

“An Garda Síochána have recently completed a review of the safety camera zones nationally and identified a further 370 locations while also proposing to remove 50 locations. Sixty per cent of the new zones will be on the regional and local road network,” he said.

The review is being carried out in consultation with the NRA who will arrange for the erection of appropriate signage.Kerry County Council had been consulted in relation to the proposal and asked to identify any further locations.

Two have been identified: on the R556 from Abbeydorney towards Tralee and the N22 from Farranfore to Lawlors Cross.

Mr O’Sullivan said he would welcome submissions of further locations by councillors.