Big rise in speeding arrests as cameras deployed

THERE WAS an almost six-fold increase in the number of people arrested for speeding offences over the St Patrick’s Day holiday period, which saw the first full deployment of privatised speed cameras across the State.

According to new figures, there were 5,000 speeding-related arrests over the five-day period from Wednesday, March 16th, to Sunday, March 20th. This compares to just 849 arrests for the same period last year.

The increase in arrests follows the full deployment of privatised speed cameras over a bank holiday weekend.

The GoSafe speed cameras, which offer an extra 6,000 hours of traffic monitoring per month, are in use across the State at more than 600 locations, including 60 in the Dublin area. Some motorists have expressed their displeasure at the new initiative.

A GoSafe speed detection van which was based on the N11 road in Co Wicklow was set on fire early last week while the man operating the speed checks was still inside the vehicle.

The latest road statistics from the Garda also show a slight rise in drink-driving arrests.

Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey said 11,651 drivers were tested at mandatory checkpoints set up to monitor drink-driving offences.

This represents a rise of 32 per cent in the numbers tested compared with the same period last year. A total of 37 motorists were arrested at these checkpoints, while an additional 230 drivers were caught by gardaí on patrols, making a total of 267.

This compares to a total of 237 arrests for drink-driving offences for the corresponding period in 2010.

The publication of the latest drink-driving arrest figures coincides with a Dáil debate on new legislation which would give gardaí the power to carry out mandatory alcohol testing at the scene of a crash that results in injuries.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar yesterday called for cross-party support for the Road Traffic Bill, 2011, which would clarify the position regarding testing.

The latest arrest figures come as a surprise given that the number of motorists detected at Garda checkpoints fell by more than 40 per cent last year, despite a record increase in the number of breath tests carried out.

According to gardaí, six people died in road crashes over the St Patrick’s holiday period.

This is double the number who died on Irish roads during the same period last year.

The number of collisions leading to serious injury was up by 20 per cent, the figures show.

Fifty-six people have died on Irish roads so far this year.

This is 17 more than for the same period in 2010.