Bus-mounted cameras observed more than 7,500 possible traffic infringements in Cork during a three-month trial period

Bus-mounted cameras have observed more than 7,500 possible traffic infringements in Cork during a three-month trial period.

The trial, undertaken by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Bus Éireann, was operated on two buses along the 220 route between August and November last year.

According to the NTA, possible contraventions captured by the cameras include illegal parking at bus stops, the use of bus lanes by non-permitted vehicles during operational hours, and vehicles parking on double yellow lines.

Speaking to The Echo, Labour Party councillor Peter Horgan said the trial has highlighted the urgent need for automatic traffic enforcement cameras across the city, in addition to a regular bus-mounted camera campaign.

“This rolls back to the issue of automatic enforcement cameras, where a fine would automatically go out, which I have been seeking for Cork,” said Mr Horgan.

“The way that it is at the moment, the rules of the road are basically being flouted — some drivers are just taking risks because the risk side is low.

“We need automatic cameras rolled out in Cork and whatever legislation to be changed to allow these automatic fines to be issued, because we don’t have the garda admin or resources to issue them.

“We have to remove the pinch-point congestion sections, and how we do that is using a stick of enforcement cameras.

“The Roads Policing Unit doesn’t have the numbers to be at every junction in the city at rush hour. It would be much like the M50 cameras — if we have the technology, let’s embrace it.”

A spokesperson for the NTA said that, after the trial, it believes that a bus-based traffic enforcement campaign would be “beneficial” for Cork.

“The purpose of the trial was to establish the capabilities of a bus-mounted system for enforcement purposes and to get a more informed indication of the scale of traffic offences impacting bus services,” the spokesperson said.

“During the three-month trial, over 7,500 possible contraventions were detected by the cameras. It is important to say that these can only be classified as possible contraventions as the necessary supplementary investigations to fully confirm the relevant circumstances were not carried out.

“The NTA is satisfied that a bus-based camera system would be beneficial in addressing infringement issues related to bus operations. However, the NTA does not have any powers of prosecution in this area and, currently, only the gardaí could utilise the bus camera images for the issuance of fines and prosecutions.”