Speed camera presence on Tipperary roads to be increased in the coming months

Gardaí across Ireland and in Tipperary are preparing to increase the presence of safety cameras on the roads to try and reduce the number of people losing their lives on the roads, which has soared in recent weeks.

So far this year, there have been 119 deaths fatal road traffic collisions with the Clare/Tipperary division recording 19 road deaths out of a total of 129 fatalities with two recent disasters on Tipperary roads in Cashel and Clonmel really elevating the issue into the national consciousness.

As a result, there will be a response to this increase in road traffic fatalities by An Garda Síochána which will focus on the increased deployment of mobile safety cameras on a risk basis and in the seven Garda Divisions where there is a higher risk of fatal road traffic collisions occurring.

The increased deployment follows the announcement earlier this week by the Minister for Justice and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris that an additional €1.2 million is to be allocated towards increasing the presence of Mobile Safety cameras.

The purpose of the deployment of mobile safety cameras in high-visibility vehicles is to change road user behaviour and reduce the likelihood of fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions occurring on our roads, particularly on stretches of roads where there is a history of collisions

Recent data has shown that 65% of all fatal collisions to date in 2023 involved a single vehicle, while 75% of all fatal collisions in 2023 have been in 80 kmph and 100 kmph zones.

Speaking on the increased deployment of Mobile Safety Cameras Assistant Commissioner Pauls Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement said: "Mobile Road Safety Cameras are deployed within identified stretches of road with a known traffic collision history or the prevalence of vulnerable road users. Mobile Safety Cameras are designed to change driver behaviour in these high-risk stretches of road.

“The additional hours are being targeted within the areas where the highest proportion of fatal road collisions are taking place. However Mobile Safety Cameras will continue to operate as normal also throughout the rest of the country.”

"An Garda Síochána continues to deploy Roads Policing members on our road network across the country. Last Monday, on National Slow Down Day, over 865 drivers were detected driving in excess of the speed limit.

“Each individual driver has a responsibility to slow down and not just drive within the speed limit but to the appropriate speed for the road, weather, traffic and vehicle conditions.

“An Garda Síochána will continue to prioritise our response to the very alarming trend in the increase in fatalities on our roads.”

Tipperary has been in the national news frequently in the past month and throughout the year as there have been 14 fatalities on Premier roads this year and the hope is these new measures will help to address the issue.