The use of speed cameras on the roads is set to increase by 20 percent in response to a rising number of road deaths recently.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris have agreed to provide an additional €1.2 million in funding for GoSafe.
This will provide an additional 1,500 hours of monitoring by GoSafe speed cameras per month until the end of this year.
“We have all been shocked by recent loss of life on our roads, and concerned by the worrying increase in road fatalities this year after many years of progress in making our roads safer,” Minister McEntee said.
“I have been discussing the issue with Commissioner Harris and Minister Chambers and this additional funding will be used to increase the number of speed cameras in operation on our roads.
“Enforcement and deterrence are key for increasing road safety, but they must also be accompanied by greater education and awareness raising, as well as looking at what more we can do across Government to bring down the number of deaths on our roads.”
To date there have been 127 people killed on Irish roads this year, 23 more than the same period 2022, and 38 more than in 2019.
One in Five of all road deaths so far this year occurred in the month of August, and one in three of all victims were under the age of 25.
Gardaí conducted a 24 hours road safety operation which came to an end this morning.
The nationwide Slow Down Day saw well over 800 drivers caught speeding, and more than 140,000 vehicles checked by GoSafe cameras.
Notable examples of speeding caught in Galway over the course of the day include a driver doing 73km/h in a 50km/h zone on Church Street, Ballinasloe, and another doing 141km/h in a 120km/h zone on the M6 at An Carn Mór Thiar, Oranmore.
“We all have a role to play in reducing road deaths,” Minister McEntee said. “Drivers must understand that every time they take to the road, they have a responsibility to themselves, their passengers and other road users, to drive safely.”
“This means wearing a seat belt, keeping off the mobile phone, driving at a speed that’s appropriate to the road conditions and within the speed limit, and not driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.”
“For the Government’s part, we can and will do more on enforcement, education, and awareness-raising, as well as looking at what more we can do across Government to bring down the number of deaths on our roads.”
