Ireland’s first National Safety Camera Strategy has been published. This provides the framework for increased deployment of cameras across the road network in urban and rural locations, and set out a new approach to the operation of safety cameras in Ireland.
Minister Canney said:
“I am pleased to publish Ireland’s first National Safety Camera Strategy, which puts in place a framework through which we can expand the use of safety cameras across our road network. Tragically, we have seen an increase in serious injuries and fatalities on our roads in recent years. The use of safety cameras has been proven to reduce speeding and improve driver behaviour, and I am confident that safety cameras can help us achieve our Road Safety targets including working towards Vision Zero.”
The National Safety Camera Strategy sets out a partnership approach to camera deployment and enforcement between An Garda Síochána, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the National Transport Authority (NTA)
The Strategy proposes that TII takes responsibility for the management of fixed and average speed cameras, in partnership with An Garda Síochána, who will continue to be responsible for the enforcement of camera-detected speed offences. The NTA will assume the primary responsibility – both management and enforcement functions – for urban traffic management offences. This approach was developed by an inter-agency working group led by TII and was agreed by the Road Safety Leadership Group chaired by Minister Canney, which is driving implementation of the Road Safety Strategy.
The Strategy aligns with Programme for Government Commitments to expand the use of safety cameras across the road network. It also delivers on part one of Action 6 of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy Phase 2 Action Plan.
“The deployment of safety cameras across the road network has been the primary responsibility of An Garda Siochána. The new approach as set out in the Strategy will ensure greater collaboration between key road safety stakeholders including An Garda Síochána, TII and the NTA and will build on the relationships already in place. We believe this will provide an effective structure through which we can make the most progress on the deployment of road safety camera systems in the near-term. I am confident that this approach will lead to positive road safety outcomes through changing driver behaviours and through enhancing enforcement of road traffic offences into the future.”
A Camera Enforcement Oversight Group comprising key stakeholders will be established to deliver the Strategy. Membership of the Camera Enforcement Oversight Group will include senior leaders from An Garda Síochána, the NTA, TII, RSA, the Courts Service and the Local Authority sector. The Group will have overall responsibility for progressing the Strategy at a high level, and will:
- Coordinate the activities of agencies involved in camera operation
- Collate, analyse and report on data on performance, such as compliance and payment rates
- Keep the Safety Camera Handbook up to date
- Undertake or task research to progress the goals of the proposed new structure
- Engage with Departments of Transport and Justice on legislative, policy and funding matters.
To ensure effective and efficient implementation of the Strategy, the Oversight Group will be delivery-focused and agree at its first meeting an immediate set of short-term actions to start implementation. The Group will report on its progress to Minister Canney and the Road Safety Leadership Group.