Garda Traffic Division & Traffic Policy
Not sure whether this should have it's own thread or is better as a continuation of this one....
Anyone want to hazard a guess how many cops I saw enforcing the road traffic laws after doing over 700km's during this supposed bank holiday crack down by the cops? The threat obviously worked, as I'd say much less crazy speeding and overtaking than I'd normally see. However, yet again they've failed to back up the threat with action, so no one will take it seriously the next time a "crack down" is launched.
From Todays Irish Independent
Gardai to hit minor roads in blitz on speeding
GARDAI have been ordered by the Government to stop concentrating speed traps on dual-carriageways and motorways.
Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy has been told the Government wants the speed checks located mainly on the country's back roads, single-lane main roads and other high-risk crash and accident locations.
The move, revealed yesterday, follows sustained criticism of gardai spending too much time on motorways and not putting enough resources to catch speeding drivers on the roads where most of the carnage is occuring.
Transport Minister Martin Cullen revealed he has told Mr Conroy speed checks on motorists must be concentrated on the dangerous blackspots and known high accident stretches.
"I've made it clear to the Garda Commissioner and the National Roads Authority that we want high visibility on the dangerous blackspots," he said.
"It is not good enough to employ all the resources on motorways and on the safer roads."
According to the minister, both the commissioner and the roads authority agreed with him on this.
Research has shown that motorways and modern dual-carriageways, which have no crossing traffic movements, are the safest here and abroad.
Mr Cullen said research here showed that these types of roads accounted for less than 2pc of deaths and injuries arising from crashes.
The minister also hit out at local authorities for not introducing special low-speed limits at vulnerable locations.
He was officially opening the upgraded N7 Naas Road dual-carriageway, a key link in the national road network between Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Dublin.
Motorists have been told they can expect journey time improvements of up to two-thirds on the new road, previously one of the most gridlocked in the country.
Mr Cullen said there would be a major safety dividend, as the risk from the previous dangerous junctions and traffic lights at Kill and Rathcoole, and other places, had been removed and replaced by a series of flyovers and the elimination of crossings in the middle of the road.
The €233.4m road, which has three lanes in each direction and a speed limit of 100kph, was built eight months ahead of schedule by Clonmel Enterprises/Laing O'Rourke and managed by engineers Halcrow Barry Consulting.
The minister also revealed that anecdotal evidence had emerged that the new random breath checks by gardai were beginning to change the mindset of drivers.
"People are saying that we knew the day would come.
"They are not now having that one pint or glass or wine," he added.
Mr Cullen said there was hard evidence to show that road deaths fell in any country which introduced random breath testing.
Treacy Hogan
Irish Independent
Gardai: A Time for Change
