Plan to expand use of traffic cameras welcomed as way 'to deter motoring offences' in Cork city

A promise to expand the use of cameras for traffic management in a recently-published road safety strategy has been welcomed by a Cork city councillor, who has urged the Government to implement changes as soon as possible.

Phase two of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which aims to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads by 50% by 2030, was published this week.

This phase of the action plan, which will run until the end of 2027, centres on a set of 12 primary actions to be delivered in collaborative partnership by actors across the sector.

The actions aim to deliver significant or transformative impacts for road safety in Ireland.

The plan also includes 77 complementary supporting actions that partners will deliver in the coming years in support of Ireland’s road safety objectives.

One of the 12 main actions listed in the plan is to expand the efficiency and capability of camera-based enforcement to improve road safety by changing driver behaviour.

The strategy states that it will implement the national safety camera strategy which was prepared during phase 1.

It will also consider the use of camera-based enforcement to automatically detect the use of mobile phones and the non-wearing of seat belts.

Additionally, strategy also promises to expand, in a sustainable manner, the use of cameras for traffic management improvements and enforcement of other offences where road safety is likely to also benefit.

Several agencies are to be involved in delivering and enforcing this promise, including the Department of Justice, the National Transport Authority, An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and local authorities.

Labour councillor and chairman of the council’s strategic policy committee on transport, Peter Horgan, who has been advocating for CCTV enforcement, including the introduction of traffic cameras with automatic number-plate recognition, said that the strategy was welcome.

He told The Echo: “It’s welcome that more and more bodies are coming on board with the need for camera enforcement as a measure to deter motoring offences — but we have to stop talking, and start doing.

“The minister has the summer recess now to publish the legislation that will allow this enforcement to take place, and I hope the minister takes advantage of that,” said Mr Horgan.

He added: “It does underpin the need for more powers to be allowed for local authorities to establish and monitor the motoring offences, rather than relying on the Dublin Government for all enabling regulations.”