99% of people compliant with controversial speed camera near Waterford
The speed camera on the N25 near Glenmore. Photo: Summer Venn-Keane
Fine Gael Councillor Fidelis Doherty raised the issue of the speed camera in Glenmore at the July sitting of the Piltown District Council.
She said, “We’re inundated with calls from people all over the country.”
She continued that she’s been contacted by people who managed to get 12 penalty points in a single day “through no fault of their own” due to the placement of the speed camera.
She continued that “it takes five years to get rid of those” and made the point that having penalty points on your licence makes insurance more expensive.
She said, “People are terribly annoyed and you can’t blame them.”
She concluded, in a somewhat resigned tone, “It’s a very emotive thing, and it still runs on.”
John Tennyson, local area engineer for Kilkenny County Council, explained that “the road itself is the responsibility of TII. It was TII and An Garda Síochána who agreed on signage for the camera.”
He further explained that, “On foot of a motion from this council, Kilkenny County Council made a submission for a review of the signage. On the foot of that, there has been additional signage erected.”
Mr Tennyson also noted that according to a study carried out by TII and An Garda Síóchána, the speed camera has recorded a 98.5% to 99% compliance rate with the speed limit.
This is coming after it was revealed the speed camera generated €5 million in fines.
The camera is located shortly after the speed limit transitions from 100kmh to 80kmh.
Motorists say this doesn’t allow sufficient distance to safely and gradually reduce speed before reaching the camera.
Labour TD for Wexford, George Lawlor, told the Waterford News & Star that he is confident that fines and points will be revoked.
In New Ross, Coghlan Kelly Solicitors are in the process of taking test cases to challenge the validity of speeding fines and penalty points.
