Additional speed cameras for Mayo roads

Mayo is in the 'High risk' category for road deaths according to a Garda statement today highlighting the deployment of additional speed cameras.

The statement says road deaths and serious injury collisions are not evenly distributed geographically and in response to the increase in road traffic fatalities gardai will increase deployment of mobile safety cameras in the seven Garda Divisions where there is a higher risk of fatal road traffic collisions occurring.

The following divisions collectively account for 67% [86] of all road deaths in 2023: Clare/Tipperary (19), Mayo/Roscommon/Longford (16), Meath/Westmeath (12), Galway (12), Kildare/Laois/Offaly (10), Cavan/Monaghan (9), Cork North (6) and Cork West (2)

In addition 4,265 additional mobile safety camera monitoring hours have been sanctioned until end of 2023.

Tragically on Irish roads between 1 January 2023 and 8 September 2023:

• 119 fatal road traffic collisions

• 129 fatalities

• 65% of all fatal collisions to date in 2023 involved a single vehicle.

• Approximately 30% of fatal collisions are as a direct result of speeding or inappropriate speed.

• Approximately 75% of all fatal collisions in 2023 have been in 80kmph and 100kmph zones.

The increased deployment follows the announcement earlier this week by the Minister for Justice and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris that an additional €1.2 million is to be allocated towards increasing the presence of Mobile Safety cameras.

The primary purpose of this additional deployment will be to reduce speed-related collisions, reduce injuries and above all save lives.

The purpose of deployment of mobile safety cameras in high-visibility vehicles is to change road user behaviour and reduce the likelihood of fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions occurring on our roads, particularly on stretches of roads where there is a history of collisions.

Speaking on the increased deployment of Mobile Safety Cameras Assistant Commissioner Pauls Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement said:

"Mobile Road Safety Cameras are deployed within identified stretches of road with a known traffic collision history or the prevalence of vulnerable road users.  Mobile Safety Cameras are designed to change driver behaviour in these high-risk stretches of road.  The additional hours are being targeted within the areas where the highest proportion of fatal road collisions are taking place.  However Mobile Safety Cameras will continue to operate as normal also throughout the rest of the country.” 

Further Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman stated: "An Garda Síochána continue to deploy Roads Policing members on our road network across the country. Last Monday, on National Slow Down Day, over 865 drivers were detected driving in excess of the speed limit. Each individual driver has a responsibility to slow down and not just drive within the speed limit but to the appropriate speed for the road, weather, traffic and vehicle conditions. An Garda Síochána will continue to prioritise our response to the very alarming trend in increase in fatalities on our roads.”

For a full list of safety camera locations across the country visit www.garda.ie.