20 November 2009
RSA Chairman Welcomes Signing of Contract for the Safety Cameras project.
Road Safety Authority Chairman Mr. Gay Byrne has, today Friday 20th October, welcomed the signing of the contract appointing a provider to implement a network of safety cameras in Ireland.
The rollout of a system of safety cameras across the roads network, to boost the enforcement activity of the Gardaí, is one the key measures in the current Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012. Mr Byrne said
“I am delighted that Minister for Justice, Mr. Dermot Ahern has approved the signing by An Garda Síochána of the contract to introduce a network of safety cameras across the country. This means that we will see the full roll out of the programme by mid 2010. Excessive and inappropriate speed is the biggest single killer on Irish roads. The decision by the Minister to implement this vital project to tackle speed will save lives and prevent injuries from the date the first camera goes live. I will ensure that the RSA works closely with the Gardaí to assist in every way possible to make sure that speed related deaths are reduced.” Mr Byrne added
“The public also need to know that they have nothing to fear from the appointment of a private operator to manage the system of safety cameras. I’m assured that they will focus enforcement on collision prone zones which have a history of speed related death and injury. These zones have been identified by the RSA and An Garda Síochána by analysing road crash data. A list of these collision prone zones is available from www.garda.ie.”
Concluding he said “It is also important to understand that the system is not about catching people speeding but stopping them from speeding. To this end I understand that the operator will be paid on the basis of the number of hours spent enforcing speed limits and not on the basis of detections. There is no incentive for the operator to catch speeding motorists, only to save lives, your life, my life.”
For further information, please contact:
- Press Office: 096 25008
- Communications Manager, Brian Farrell: 086 388 1009
- Get a list of collision prone zones from www.garda.ie