Podcast: Go Safe Vans. The Joe Finnegan Show put a query into An Garda Síochána asking what General Protocols/Guidelines are used Nationwide when determining the location of Speed Vans.
The Gardai replied with the following statement.
GoSafe is contracted by An Garda Síochána in conjunction with the Department of Justice to provide and operate safety cameras in Ireland. The safety cameras are deployed in high-visibility vehicles; primarily on stretches of roads where there is a history of collisions.
GoSafe mobile safety camera deployment provide An Garda Síochána with an effective method to help mitigate the risk of serious or fatal collisions with the targeted tasking of safety vans to those roads identified as most dangerous.
The primary purpose of GoSafe mobile safety camera deployment is to reduce speed-related collisions; reduce injuries; and above all save lives. Ultimately, the deployment of mobile safety cameras help to change road user behaviour; and reduce the likelihood of fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions occurring on our roads. The human impact on families, communities and persons who have lost a loved one or sustained serious and life changing injuries in road traffic collisions cannot be underestimated.
The total number of safety camera zones nationwide is 1,542 and 40 community request zones. (correct as of 30th September 2024). Each zone is not a specific point but a stretch of road within which Mobile Safety Cameras can operate. All Safety Camera Zones are published on the Garda Website.
Safety Camera Locations - Garda
The zones are public information as the primary aim of Safety Camera Zones is to slow drivers down and prevent collisions at collision prone locations.
Safety Camera Zones are identified based on speed-related collision history where fatal, serious injury and minor injury collisions occur. Locations are also included based on local community and local Garda management knowledge in areas of concern.
Flexibility is part of the GoSafe tasking. In tasking GoSafe van deployment, collisions data is utilised to identify, prioritise and target locations that are of higher risk of fatal road traffic collisions and on the days and times where this risk is highest. This ensures that mobile safety cameras are deployed at the right place at the right time to reduce the risk of collisions and fatalities. Deployments are reviewed monthly based on effectiveness and emerging trends.
An Garda Síochána is committed to reducing road deaths by working with partners as per the Government’s Road Safety Strategy. This involves approximately 180 measures for delivery by all partners to the Strategy across areas such as enforcement, education, technology, information sharing, legislation and roads infrastructure.
Joe Finnegan read the story on air. Take a listen here:
