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Average speed cameras to be rolled out on N5, N3 tomorrow

The speed camera on the N5 in Co Mayo
The speed camera on the N5 in Co Mayo

From tomorrow, average speed cameras will be operating in two new locations along sections of road in counties Cavan and Mayo.

It is part of the planned introduction of three average speed cameras and nine static speed safety cameras across the country this year and early next year.

The average speed cameras will be in operation in both directions from midday tomorrow on the N3 in Co Cavan, between Kilduff and Billis, and on the N5 in Co Mayo, between Lislackagh and Cuilmore, Swinford.

Gardaí said the use of average speed cameras is "intended to change driver behaviour, reduce the average speed of road users and the number of collisions that occur" and make roads safer for all road users.

Average safety cameras monitor a vehicle's speed over the distance of the safety camera zone, which in the case of the new cameras, is a distance of approximately 4km-5km.

Anyone found to be driving in excess of the 100km/h posted speed limit - that is, driving from point A to point B too quickly - will be issued with a Fixed Charge Notice, which assigns three penalty points to the driver's license and includes a €160 fine, or €240 if it is not paid within 28 days.

Speed is a significant contributor to road deaths and a cause in 30% of fatal collisions, gardaí said.

143 people have died on Irish roads so far this year, which is ten fewer than during the same period last year.

Gardaí said the spots for the new cameras have been chosen after being classified as high collision sites with numerous road traffic collisions, involving injury, serious injury and fatalities.

The presence of speed cameras can reduce the number of collisions and their severity, gardaí said, citing a "halo effect" - where drivers have been found to reduce speed due to the presence of speed or safety cameras.

Surveys carried out before work began and after civil works were completed for the new cameras on the N5 and N3 have already demonstrated the halo effect, with significant increases in driver compliance, gardaí said.

An additional average safety camera on the N2 at Slane, Co Meath is due to be up and running by early next year.

Six new static safety cameras will be in operation before the end of this year with a further three due to be rolled out in early 2025.

The locations of the new static safety cameras were announced in May, on the N59 (Galway), N25 (Waterford), R772 (Wicklow), N14 (Donegal), N80 (Carlow), Dublin (Dolphin's Barn), N17 (Mayo), N22 (Cork), and N69 (Limerick).

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"An Garda Siochána remains committed to road safety and average safety cameras have been shown to reduce speed and impact postively on driver behaviour," Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said.

"The addition of two new average safety locations along the N5 and is will add to the suite of of measures already being undertaken by An Garda Síochána in the area of improving road safety."

The Minister for Justice said the rollout of the cameras are part of a cross-agency effort involving gardaí, the Government and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to change peoples' behaviour on the road.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Helen McEntee said people do slow down when they know average speed cameras are in place.

She said that while it was still early, they did see a reduction in the number of road deaths over the summer months. However, they cannot afford to be complacent, she added.

The minister said four competitions have been held to employ more gardaí to traffic units and there should be nearly 700 members in the units by the end of this year.

This number will increase again next year, she added.

The first stretch of the country's motorway network to have average speed cameras went live in Co Tipperary in 2022.