Unlike conventional speed cameras that capture a vehicle’s speed at a single point, these average speed cameras calculate a vehicle’s speed over a designated stretch of road. This method involves capturing the speed between two points—ensuring drivers maintain a safe speed throughout their journey rather than just at camera locations.

Anyone caught speeding between the designated points on these roads will face a fine of up to €160 and receive three penalty points on their license. This enforcement is backed by the advanced automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology, which meticulously records the time, date, and vehicle details at both entry and exit points of the monitored zone.

The decision to implement these average speed cameras follows the success of similar setups on the M7 motorway and in Dublin’s Port Tunnel, where they have notably helped reduce average speeds and, consequently, road accidents. An Garda Síochána has confirmed that the chosen locations for these cameras are sites with a history of traffic incidents, including serious and fatal collisions, underscoring the need for consistent speed monitoring.

This initiative is part of a larger rollout that includes the introduction of three average speed camera systems and nine static speed cameras across various locations. Further details about the additional camera sites are expected to be announced soon.

The enforcement of these systems will commence at noon this Friday, with Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris scheduled to officially inaugurate the operation. This move is a clear stride towards altering driving behaviors, reducing average speeds, and enhancing the safety of all road users in Ireland.

New RSA Campaign Targets Dangerous Driving Behaviors

The RSA’s campaign, which includes six radio adverts running on digital audio platforms, will continue until the end of August. These adverts were developed using feedback from in-depth research and focus groups, particularly targeting younger male drivers on rural roads. Minister of State at the Department of Transport, James Lawless, emphasized the campaign’s importance, highlighting new measures introduced in the Road Traffic Act 2024. These measures include harsher penalties, safer speed limits, and mandatory roadside drug testing for drivers involved in serious collisions.

RSA Chairperson Liz O’Donnell stressed that dangerous driving behaviors, such as speeding, intoxication, and non-wearing of seatbelts, are significant contributors to road fatalities. She cited the 2023 Free Speed observational study, which revealed that half of the drivers exceeded speed limits of 30km, 50km, and 60km/h. The acceptability of speeding has remained high since 2020, contributing to the problem.

To date, there have been 101 road fatalities in Ireland this year, 14 more than the same period last year. The RSA’s drink driving adverts feature autopsy reports attributing deaths to drink driving, while speeding adverts liken speeding to a serial killer and challenge the mindset of those who speed because they “know the road.” The campaign also includes adverts from 2023 addressing the effects of drugs on drivers and the dangers of using mobile phones while driving.

Chief Executive of the RSA, Sam Waide, pointed out that one in ten drivers admitted to drink driving in 2023, with surveys indicating a higher social acceptability of drink driving in recent years. Moreover, coronial data from 2015-2019 showed that 37% of driver fatalities had a positive toxicology for alcohol.

The RSA’s campaign is a crucial step in raising awareness and tackling dangerous driving behaviours, aiming to make Irish roads safer for all.