Six New Safety Camera Zones For The Midlands

Thursday, 21 July 2022 14:22

A map of speed enforcement zones in the midlands.

The GoSafe vans operate in areas where there's a history of speed related collisions.

The number of areas covered by mobile speed cameras will be increased from next week.

61 new safety camera zones will come into operation from 6am on Tuesday.

Six will be located in the midlands - on the R420 between Moate and Tullamore, the N62 connecting Athlone and Roscrea, and the R441 route between Rhode and Killane, along with two new locations on the M6 in Westmeath and one on the M8 in Laois.

It brings the total to 1,373 nationwide.

Go Safe vans operate in areas where there is a history of speed related collisions, known as speed enforcement zones.

Their primary purpose is to reduce speed-related collisions, lessen injuries and save lives.

To date in 2022, there have been 89 road deaths an increase in 28 over 2021 and 13 to date in 2019.

An Garda Síochána has completed an updated collision analysis of the road network based on recent available collision statistics. The objective was to take a proactive approach in the prevention of fatalities and life changing injuries by identifying new speed enforcement zones not currently being monitored as part of the current project.

New locations were selected following an analysis of collated Garda data acquired from fatal, serious and minor road traffic collisions and from further consideration given to locations of concern highlighted by local communities through local Garda Community engagement.

The new zones are spread across 23 counties, 49% on Regional Routes, 31% National Routes and 20% on other routes (Motorway, Local Roads etc.).

Commenting on the announcement, Superintendent Thomas Murphy, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said;

"When someone decides to speed they put themselves and members of their community at risk, particularly children, older people, cyclists and other motorists. Our priority is to ensure that the vast majority of people who use the roads responsibly are not put in danger by a minority of reckless drivers who continue to drive at excessive speed.

"GoSafe vans operate in areas that have a speed-related collision history where fatal, serious injury and minor injury collisions occur. In addition, locations which have been highlighted by members of the community as being areas of concern, have been included in the new zones. By identifying and targeting these high-risk areas, the aim is to reduce the number of fatal and serious injury collisions."

Superintendent Murphy added;

"The deployment of safety cameras has been proven to save lives. I call on every road user to play their part to make the roads safer for all. You can do this by being a Lifesaver #Slowdown."