Average Safety Cameras to go live tomorrow

Average Safety Cameras along the N3 in Cavan will become operational tomorrow at midday.

The cameras have been installed between Kilduff and Billis and operate in both directions.

Commissioning, testing, and validation of the cameras got underway earlier this month.

Those found exceeding the designated speed limit to face fixed charge penalty notice fine of €160 and three penalty points.

Speaking today at the launch of cameras at locations on the N5 in Swinford, Co. Mayo and the N3 in Co. Cavan Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the two new cameras will "add to the suite of measures already being undertaken" by An Garda Síochána in the area of improving road safety.

There will be "a further six" static safety cameras "live by the end of this year."

He announced that "a further three" static cameras will come on stream in the first quarter of 2025.

Average Safety Cameras work by monitoring a vehicle's speed over the distance of the Safety Camera Zone, rather than at a single point. The speed is not recorded at the cameras at the entry and exit of the safety camera zone.

They are intended to change driver behaviour, reduce the average speed of road users and the number of collisions that occur, making roads safer for all road users and decreasing the impact of speed on local communities.

International studies have found that speed cameras can influence a reduction in collisions and the severity of collisions through the ‘halo effect’ – where drivers have been found to reduce speed due to the presence of speed or safety cameras.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said Government is "determined to reverse" the "recent increase in fatalities" on Irish roads.

"Average speed cameras are a hugely valuable and welcome addition to the measures we have already put in place, to keep everyone on our roads safe," Minister McEntee said.

She said during 2023 frontline Gardaí (excluding full time roads policing Gardaí) were responsible for 70% of Driving Under the Influence detections and 25% of the enforcement of Mobile Phone, Seatbelt and Speeding offences.

"Gardaí are taking an innovative approach with the introduction of the new lorry cab to help detect distracted driving, and each Garda member now undertakes 30 minutes of roads policing on every shift.

"While the efforts of Gardaí are vital, technology can play an effective role in changing behaviours. I welcome the roll out of these two average speed cameras this week, and the ongoing roll out of static speed cameras."

The cameras were first introduced in the M50 Dublin Port Tunnel in 2017 and later on the M7 in 2022 between Junction 26 and Junction 27, which is a 9km stretch.

In the last three years, since 2022, over 22,500 Fixed Charge Notices have been issued in the M7 Average Safety Camera system.

In the last three years, since 2022, nearly 7,000 Fixed Charge Notices have been issued in the M50 Dublin Port Tunnel Average Safety Camera System.

Drivers detected travelling from point A to point B too quickly, are issued with a Fixed Charge Notice which, when processed, assigns three penalty points to the driver’s licence and a fine of €160, or €240 if not paid within 28 days.