Increase in speed cameras changing drivers' behaviour - gardaí

An Garda Síochána has moved to assure that speed cameras are "not about raising revenue". Creating safer driving behaviour is the priority, insist the gardaí in light of figures of fines generated by speed van operators.

This week's Anglo-Celt newspaper features a front page article indicating €1.2M in speeding fines were issued in Cavan and Monaghan over a 30-month period. The figures were released by Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, who is calling for a get-tough approach to those caught speeding excessively on rural roads.

An Garda Síochána insisted the force is committed to road safety with their partner GoSafe who operate Mobile Safety Camera Vans under contract.

A garda spokesperson told the Celt: "An Garda Síochána has consistently stated and highlighted that Mobile Safety Camera Vans are not about raising revenue, they are directed for deployment in High Collision Prone Zones on a repetitive and recurring basis in order to change driver behaviour and pattern in those zones to make those designated zones safer."

The spokesperson detailed how statistics suggest the greater presence of camera vans has impacted driver behaviour positively.

"In 2023, in direct response to rising road fatalities, An Garda Síochána provided additional funding for an increase in GoSafe monitoring hours. In 2024 and again for 2025 this increase in annual monitoring hours from 6,000 hours to 9,000 hours every month has been sustained, directly demonstrating An Garda Síochána's and GoSafe's commitment to making our roads safer.

"An overall reduction in the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued by Mobile Safety Camera Vans is an indication of increased compliance with speed limits by drivers in the identified and monitored Safety Camera Zones.

"In 2024 over 96,500 Fixed Charge Notices for speeding were issued from Mobile Safety Camera vans, compared to approximately 110,000 Fixed Charge Notices in 2023."

The spokesperson concluded that the locations of Safety Camera Zones are reviewed by An Garda Síochána on a regular basis. The location of Safety Camera Zones are published on the Garda website.