Website aiding motorists to avoid speed traps branded as dangerous

A website dedicated to helping the Republic's speeding motorists avoid Garda speed traps could endanger the lives of motorists, the National Safety Council claimed yesterday.

Since May 14th last, the website has attracted 11,236 visitors, who can view comprehensive data on the location of Garda speed checks in each county.

The site also carries information relating to the latest Garda equipment used to pinpoint speeding motorists.

Responding to a special appeal from the website, information is provided by motorists who monitor Garda Traffic Corps movements in each county. The site also contains photographs of Garda operations and equipment and critically evaluates the Garda equipment being used.

A spokeswoman for the National Safety Council said the site could endanger not only the motorists themselves but other motorists through website users slowing down when they perceive a speed-check is nearby and speeding on to make up time when they are confident that no further checks lie ahead.

She claimed that the existence of the website impinges on Garda operations to enforce the law. The site contains links to the Garda Siochana home page and to the National Safety Council website.

The spokeswoman for the National Safety Council said it was not aware of the link to its website and that this would be now under investigation.

Information relating to Garda speed-checks include a garda hiding in a private housing estate on the left hand side of the road on an approach to a midlands town. Visitors to the site are told: "It is impossible to spot him until you are level with him and then it is too late."

However, the website comes with a disclaimer stating that the "authors of this site do not encourage or condone speeding or dangerous driving in any way. Content of this site is for educational purposes only."

A Garda spokesman said yesterday that the Gardai would not be too concerned about the site, adding that it would not affect its operations.

Stating that there is probably no offence committed through the establishment of the website and the information being provided, he said people viewing the site would be very foolish to think they could avoid detection. Garda speed checks were random and roving vans carried out speed checks.