Latest news with #RoadSafetyStrategy
Irish Post
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Post
New speed camera goes live in Co. Carlow tomorrow
A NEWLY installed speed camera on a busy road in Co. Carlow will go live tomorrow. The static speed camera has been installed on the N80 and will be operational from midday. From that point anyone caught speeding at the site will receive a fixed charge notice (FCN) consisting of a €160 fine accompanied by three penalty points. The Carlow camera adds to new static safety cameras already in operation on the N17 in Mayo, N59 in Galway, N13 in Donegal, N69 in Limerick, R772 in Wexford and the N22 in Cork. First introduced in the Dublin Port Tunnel and on the M7, five average safety cameras are also now in place across Ireland, with three further devices installed on the N3 in Cavan, N5 in Mayo and N2 in Meath. There are also 58 mobile safety cameras operational across 1,500 locations across the country as well as hand held safety cameras which are operated by Gardaí. 'Static safety cameras have been proven internationally to reduce speeding,' Gardai said in a statement as the Carlow device is due to go live. 'All roads nationally were assessed by collision severity and occurrence (including where excessive speed was a factor in the outcome), to determine the road sections in which safety cameras have the best opportunity to prevent future death and serious injury to road users,' they explained of the positioning of their existing cameras. 'The locations were selected based on fatal and serious injury collision data from the last seven years and speed data, as well as feedback from stakeholders,' they added. 'An Garda Síochána is committed to reducing road deaths by working with partners as per the Government's Road Safety Strategy.' More than 6000 FCNs were issued in Ireland from January to April this year. In total 6073 were issued for static and average speed cameras across the country during that period. Some 2385 of those were issued via the safety speed camera on the N17 in Mayo. A further 1581 FCNs were issued through the safety speed camera on the N13 in Donegal. See More: Carlow, Ireland, Speed Camera
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Speed limits reduced across Irish roads as part of plan to reduce deaths
Speed limits are being reduced on hundreds of rural roads in the Republic of Ireland as part of a Government plan to tackle the number of road deaths. Thousands of new road speed signs show that limits will decrease from 80km/h (50mph) to 60km/h (37mph) and will apply from Friday. The move is targeted at rural and local roads which serve local travel and connect rural communities, the Department of Transport said. From today, 7 February 2025, speed limits on many rural local roads have been reduced from 80km/h to 60km/ new 'Rural Speed Limit' sign means you must drive at 60km/h or more, visit #RoadSafety — RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) February 7, 2025 These roads are designated with an 'L' followed by a number, or do not have a number. Reducing speed limits is part of the Government's Road Safety Strategy and is part of a range of measures intended to reduce fatalities and protect road users. Friday's change is the first phase of a nationwide speed limit overhaul which will see further reductions introduced. Later in the year, the speed limit in urban cores, which include built-up areas as well as housing estates and town centres, will be reduced from 50km/h (31mph) to 30km/h (18.6mph). The speed limit on national secondary roads will also be reduced from 100km/h (62mph) to 80km/h (50mph). Local authorities have received grant funding from the Department of Transport to purchase and install poles and signs to display the new speed limit on the relevant roads. The 'rural speed limit sign', which is used as an alternative to numeric speed limit signs on specific single lane rural roads, will now mean that a maximum 60km/h limit is in force. The Department of Transport said it has been working closely with the Irish police (An Garda Siochana), along with other stakeholders, to ensure that the 60km/h limit is enforced. From the 7th of February, speed limits on many rural local roads will be reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h Going slower significantly reduces the risk of death in a — An Roinn Iompair – Department of Transport (@Dept_Transport) February 4, 2025 Research by the Road Safety Authority has shown that seven in every 10 fatal traffic collisions happen on rural roads with a speed limit of 80km/h or higher. It also show that speed is a contributory factor in a third of fatal collisions and that reducing speed significantly reduces road deaths. Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said: 'Today's speed limit reduction will save lives, because driving slower saves lives. 'Driving at a lower speed means that if you get into a collision, either as a driver or a vulnerable road user, death or serious injury is a significantly less likely outcome. It also means you are less likely to be involved in a collision at all. 'Death and serious injuries on our roads are not inevitable, they are preventable through tangible, sensible measures. 'This Government is taking action to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.' Minister of State at the Department of Transport Sean Canney said: 'Today's speed limit change is an outcome of many years of consultation, deliberation and engagement across the system, most notably from the evidence base of the 2023 Speed Limit Review and close collaboration with local authorities who are implementing this reduction. 'This welcome change will give us all safer roads. 'Systemic changes like today's speed limit reduction and road safety education – along with enforcement – have helped us significantly bring down road deaths, but in recent years this trend has worryingly reversed. 'Together we can make our roads safer, by observing the speed limit, driving safely and looking out for one another on rural local roads.'
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Speed limits reduced across Irish roads as part of plan to reduce deaths
Speed limits are being reduced on hundreds of rural roads in the Republic of Ireland as part of a Government plan to tackle the number of road deaths. Thousands of new road speed signs show that limits will decrease from 80km/h (50mph) to 60km/h (37mph) and will apply from Friday. The move is targeted at rural and local roads which serve local travel and connect rural communities, the Department of Transport said. From today, 7 February 2025, speed limits on many rural local roads have been reduced from 80km/h to 60km/ new 'Rural Speed Limit' sign means you must drive at 60km/h or more, visit #RoadSafety — RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) February 7, 2025 These roads are designated with an 'L' followed by a number, or do not have a number. Reducing speed limits is part of the Government's Road Safety Strategy and is part of a range of measures intended to reduce fatalities and protect road users. Friday's change is the first phase of a nationwide speed limit overhaul which will see further reductions introduced. Later in the year, the speed limit in urban cores, which include built-up areas as well as housing estates and town centres, will be reduced from 50km/h (31mph) to 30km/h (18.6mph). The speed limit on national secondary roads will also be reduced from 100km/h (62mph) to 80km/h (50mph). Local authorities have received grant funding from the Department of Transport to purchase and install poles and signs to display the new speed limit on the relevant roads. The 'rural speed limit sign', which is used as an alternative to numeric speed limit signs on specific single lane rural roads, will now mean that a maximum 60km/h limit is in force. The Department of Transport said it has been working closely with the Irish police (An Garda Siochana), along with other stakeholders, to ensure that the 60km/h limit is enforced. From the 7th of February, speed limits on many rural local roads will be reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h Going slower significantly reduces the risk of death in a — An Roinn Iompair – Department of Transport (@Dept_Transport) February 4, 2025 Research by the Road Safety Authority has shown that seven in every 10 fatal traffic collisions happen on rural roads with a speed limit of 80km/h or higher. It also show that speed is a contributory factor in a third of fatal collisions and that reducing speed significantly reduces road deaths. Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said: 'Today's speed limit reduction will save lives, because driving slower saves lives. 'Driving at a lower speed means that if you get into a collision, either as a driver or a vulnerable road user, death or serious injury is a significantly less likely outcome. It also means you are less likely to be involved in a collision at all. 'Death and serious injuries on our roads are not inevitable, they are preventable through tangible, sensible measures. 'This Government is taking action to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.' Minister of State at the Department of Transport Sean Canney said: 'Today's speed limit change is an outcome of many years of consultation, deliberation and engagement across the system, most notably from the evidence base of the 2023 Speed Limit Review and close collaboration with local authorities who are implementing this reduction. 'This welcome change will give us all safer roads. 'Systemic changes like today's speed limit reduction and road safety education – along with enforcement – have helped us significantly bring down road deaths, but in recent years this trend has worryingly reversed. 'Together we can make our roads safer, by observing the speed limit, driving safely and looking out for one another on rural local roads.'
The Independent
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Speed limits reduced across Irish roads as part of plan to reduce deaths
Speed limits are being reduced on hundreds of rural roads in the Republic of Ireland as part of a Government plan to tackle the number of road deaths. Thousands of new road speed signs show that limits will decrease from 80km/h (50mph) to 60km/h (37mph) and will apply from Friday. The move is targeted at rural and local roads which serve local travel and connect rural communities, the Department of Transport said. These roads are designated with an 'L' followed by a number, or do not have a number. Reducing speed limits is part of the Government's Road Safety Strategy and is part of a range of measures intended to reduce fatalities and protect road users. Friday's change is the first phase of a nationwide speed limit overhaul which will see further reductions introduced. Later in the year, the speed limit in urban cores, which include built-up areas as well as housing estates and town centres, will be reduced from 50km/h (31mph) to 30km/h (18.6mph). The speed limit on national secondary roads will also be reduced from 100km/h (62mph) to 80km/h (50mph). Local authorities have received grant funding from the Department of Transport to purchase and install poles and signs to display the new speed limit on the relevant roads. The 'rural speed limit sign', which is used as an alternative to numeric speed limit signs on specific single lane rural roads, will now mean that a maximum 60km/h limit is in force. The Department of Transport said it has been working closely with the Irish police (An Garda Siochana), along with other stakeholders, to ensure that the 60km/h limit is enforced. Research by the Road Safety Authority has shown that seven in every 10 fatal traffic collisions happen on rural roads with a speed limit of 80km/h or higher. It also show that speed is a contributory factor in a third of fatal collisions and that reducing speed significantly reduces road deaths. Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said: 'Today's speed limit reduction will save lives, because driving slower saves lives. 'Driving at a lower speed means that if you get into a collision, either as a driver or a vulnerable road user, death or serious injury is a significantly less likely outcome. It also means you are less likely to be involved in a collision at all. 'Death and serious injuries on our roads are not inevitable, they are preventable through tangible, sensible measures. 'This Government is taking action to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.' Minister of State at the Department of Transport Sean Canney said: 'Today's speed limit change is an outcome of many years of consultation, deliberation and engagement across the system, most notably from the evidence base of the 2023 Speed Limit Review and close collaboration with local authorities who are implementing this reduction. 'This welcome change will give us all safer roads. 'Systemic changes like today's speed limit reduction and road safety education – along with enforcement – have helped us significantly bring down road deaths, but in recent years this trend has worryingly reversed. 'Together we can make our roads safer, by observing the speed limit, driving safely and looking out for one another on rural local roads.'
Sky News
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Tougher laws on unlicensed drivers to be considered after Sky News report
Why you can trust Sky News The government will look to introduce tougher laws on unlicensed drivers as part of its forthcoming road safety strategy, Sky News understands. It comes after Sky News reported on the story of Harry Parker, who was just 14-years-old when he was hit and killed by a car on his way to his Swindon school in November 2022. The driver of the car did not have a licence, insurance, or stop at the scene. But two years after Harry's death, the Crown Prosecution Service told his parents it was dropping the charges. It said: "We examined this case in great detail - including obtaining the advice of a forensic collision expert - and it has become clear that there is not enough evidence to demonstrate that this collision could reasonably have been avoided, and therefore that the driving was careless." His parents' local MP, Will Stone, received permission from the Commons on Tuesday to introduce the Road Traffic (unlicensed drivers) Bill, that he referred to in his speech in the chamber as the "Harry Parker Bill". The bill would make causing death while driving without a licence or insurance a specific criminal offence after previous legislation became effectively redundant. Labour MP Mr Stone made a speech setting out the case for changing the law in parliament on Tuesday as part of a Ten Minute Rule Bill - a motion to seek MPs' permission to introduce a bill to make the case for a new law. "The law in its current form is failing," he said. "A person who does not hold a valid license has no business being behind the wheel of a car. And when they do so, they put lives at risk. "I cannot bring back Harry, nor can I give Adam and Kelly the justice that they deserve. No legislation, no speech, no court ruling will ever be able to ease their pain. What we must do is ensure that no other family has to endure what they have been through. "The Harry Parker Bill seeks to close the dangerous gaps in our legal system and impose real world consequences on those who choose to drive without a license. Those who choose to drive without a valid license will be deemed careless." MPs voted to progress the bill to be debated as part of the next stage of the parliamentary process. It is rare for a backbench Ten Minute Rule Bill to become legislation. But Sky News now understands the government is going to adopt the Harry Parker Bill as part of its forthcoming new Road Safety Strategy. Harry's parents, Adam and Kelly Parker, travelled to Westminster to watch the Ten Minute Rule Bill from the public gallery. "It was a bit surreal," said Mr Parker. "When he actually read it out I just started crying, I welled up. It made it very, very real, how far we're actually taking this, and it showed that people are actually really listening. It's comforting." There is no current national data on the number of unlicensed drivers, though past research by the Department for Transport estimated they commit 9.3% - or nearly 1 in 10 - of all motoring offences. It was thought there could be as many as 470,000 on the roads. In 2006, the Labour government introduced a new offence of causing death while driving without a licence or insurance, punishable by up to two years in prison. But in 2013 the Supreme Court ruled that, due to the way the legislation was worded, prosecutors still had to prove the driving was at fault - thus rendering the new law fairly redundant, as a driver could then be charged by careless or dangerous driving. The judges were concerned about otherwise faultless unlicensed drivers being charged if a drunk pedestrian fell into the road in front of them, or if someone attempted suicide by jumping out into the road. The Department of Transport said: "Every death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Harry Parker.
