N25 Static Speed Camera 'welcome addition' for road safety
The static speed cameras are rolling out across the country.
A new static speed camera has been installed between Luffany and Glenmore at the Ballinclare Junction on behalf of An Garda Síochána.
Kilkenny County Council have been engaged to carry out the engineering of the installation.
According to John Tennyson, of the Kilkenny County Council, the locations were chosen based on the level of dangerous incidents reported in the area.
“This is a pilot project where nine such locations have bee chosen across the country," he said while attending the recent Piltown Municipal District meeting.
Locations were selected based on the fatal and serious injury collision data from the last seven years and speed data, as well as feedback from stakeholders.
“Research has shown that they have a significant effect on reducing both speed and collisions and fatalities on roads," said Mr Tennyson.
“Initial works have been carried out here between affected landowners and ESB, and at the moment, it is definitely the end of Q1 before that camera is in operation," he added.
Councillor Pat Dunphy (Fine Gael) asked how the camera would work, to which Mr Tennyson replied: “Essentially, it operates very similar to GoSafe vans, except that its in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“So, someone is caught breaking the speed limit, they’re automatically added to the GoSafe speed van and are issued with a fixed payment notice, penalty points and fines etc.
“It will work in both directions and on behalf of the Gardaí we will be erecting signage as well.”
He added: “ The idea here is to catch people, to make people slow down, to reduce incidents and, ultimately, collisions and fatalities.”
The councillors were supportive of the installation, with Councillor Fidelis Dunphy (Fine Gael) commenting: “The last person to pass away there was in December 2021, I think. The lady had lost her husband only a month previously. She had her daughter sitting beside her in the car, so that young lady lost her mother and a father in a month. That particular spot in Ballinclare is particularly dangerous in that big wide open country. It kind of lends itself to people speeding up, whether going towards (New) Ross or coming towards Slieverue."
“So that speed camera is really welcome,; it’s a welcome addition to road safety," she said.
