‘Permanentcameraswould bebetterthanspeedvans’
THE total number of speed camera zones in Kerry is now up to 70 after 47 new speed camera zones came into force on Monday morning.
The number is over double the amount of zones (23) on Kerry’s roads previously.
Seven new speed cameras have been set up in areas that have had fatal collisions, while in almost all of the new zones, there has been at least one or more serious collisions, along with a large number of minor collisions.
There are now 11 camera zones along the scenic N70 Ring of Kerry road from Tralee to Kenmare, while three new zones have been set up along the N86 road through Derrymore, Camp and as you approach the Inch beach turn-off.
There are now four speed camera zones along the N69 road from Tralee to Listowel, while on the N22 main road from Tralee to Killarney, there are now seven speed camera zones in operation.
Many of the new camera zones have been set up along regional roads with 16 new zones set up.
A comprehensive list of all the speed-camera locations in Kerry can be viewed via an interactive map on the Garda website.
In addition to the new zones added on Monday, road signs for speed cameras are being removed as part of the overhaul of the system.
In total, there were 903 new speed cameras introduced around the country on Monday and there are now a total of 1,322 speed camera zones in operation nationwide.
The update follows a three year study of black-spots.
SIR,
Let me first say that I am fully in agreement about controlling speed on our roads.
I live on a straight stretch of road that is three kilometres long and has three speed limits in its length. First you have an 80kmph limit then a 60kmph then a 50kmph outside a national school, reverting back to a 80km once more. The 50kmph and 60kmph limits are speed controlled by way of mobile camera vans. While they do a limited job, the top speed recorded going through our area is 180kmph.
The length of time spent in the courts dealing with the number of fines for our area alone has led a judge to utter the immortal words: ‘ What are they doing out there? Shooting fish in a barrel?’.
They are now proposing to speed-camera-control hundreds of new areas in addition to these already controlled. Does this mean that dozens more camera vans are going to be provided or that less time will be spent on those already controlled?
These vans, while doing a limited job, are at present parking a lot of times in places where they should not be:
- At entrances to fields where farmers may require access at any time.
- At recesses provided by private houses for off-site parking.
- At recesses at estate entrances which provide a line of sight for cars coming on to the main road and, therefore, creating a traffic hazard.
These vans are doing a very limited job of work and are surely out of date.
In this day and age, permanent camera positions working 24/7 would surely provide a better option.
These cameras could be controlled from centres around the country and would do much more than catch speeding vehicles.
They would detect tax, insurance and NCT defaulters as well. These vehicles should not be able to be taxed, insured, NCT’d or sold until the fines that they have accrued are paid. Fines not paid for over a 12-month period should result in the vehicle being taken and sold or crushed. This would free up a lot of our courts’ time.
In England, police cars already have these cameras installed and can check travelling vehicles. So if we are serious about road safety, now is the time to act, Sincerely,
Michael O’Meara, Faha, Killarney.