Minister calls for more automated traffic cameras

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe has called for automated traffic light cameras to be used to police the bus gate in College Green and other busy junctions in Dublin city centre.

The call follows the success of the first automated traffic light camera launched at Benburb Street earlier this month, which the Garda said has reduced the number of daily incidents of “red light running” from “high single figures to low single figures”.

Red light running is when a car fails to stop at a red light. The term also applies to junctions where traffic stops at a red light but drives on, before the green light, after a cursory check to see if traffic is coming.

The Railway Procurement Agency has listed four junctions in the north inner city which are particularly vulnerable to red light running and consequent crashes with Luas trams.

The top four junctions where a vehicle-tram collisions happen in the city centre are on the Luas Red Line between Heuston and Connolly. They are Benburb Street/Queen Street; Benburb Street/Blackhall Place; Abbey Street/Jervis Street and Mary’s Abbey/Capel Street.

Garda sources have said that since the automated camera was installed in Benburb Street private cars have been observed running the red light up to 30 seconds after it turned red from amber.

While the greatest integration between Luas and private vehicles is on the Red Line between Connolly and Heuston stations, the arrival of the Luas cross city line in 2017 will dramatically increase the amount of potential interaction between Luas trams, cars, delivery vehicles and even pedestrians.

Commenting of the success of the Benburb Street camera Mr Donohoe said the system had tremendous potential for the city and particularly in the context of Luas cross city.

He said the restricted access for private cars through the bus gate in College Green in the mornings and evenings was currently policed by a number of gardaí.

But he said it seemed logical to replace the gardaí with an automated traffic camera which could photograph private cars breaking the rules.

Mr Donohoe said placing a camera on a junction is a collaborative effort between the Railway Procurement Agency - if Luas is involved – and the National Transport Authority, as well as the City Council.

He said he would be pressing each of these bodies over coming months to consider the extension of the cameras.