Drivers who break a red light at one of the Dublin’s busiest junctions will automatically receive three penalty points after a new camera system goes into operation today.
The automated red light twin camera system is designed to minimise collisions and it will monitor traffic at the junction of Blackhall Place and the Luas Red Line.
The cameras take photographs of vehicles entering the intersection when the light is red and drivers who break the red light will automatically receive three penalty points and a fine of up to €120.
The penalty points can be increased to five in the event of a court conviction.
The two camera system installed in Dublin cost €30,000 to install and a further €30,000 to monitor and maintain.
This type of enforcement system is widely used across the US and in the EU but the Dublin installation is the first deployment of its kind in Ireland.
The two camera system in place in Dublin is linked securely via an encrypted link to the Garda Pulse system. It takes two photographs showing the offending car’s licence plate as the vehicle breaks the red light.
Once the images are verified by gardaí the penalty is then issued.
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said he would evaluate the success of the camera before deciding whether more will be introduced around the city.
“We’re confident it’s going to make a very big impact at junctions like this and then based on the success it has we will look at rolling it out elsewhere,” he said.
“There is not as much awareness as there needs to be. Unfortunately the figures speak for themselves. That poses huge risks to people in a vehicle, to Luas passengers, and to other road users, whether they be cyclists or pedestrians.
“The frequency with which incidents have been happening in recent years means a system like this is necessary. It’s being used now at one of the very busiest junctions in the city.”
Operational from 8am on Thursday morning the system has been “thoroughly vetted and tested over a six-month period,” a spokeswoman for the Railway Procurement Agency said.
During the test period the system recorded an average of five infractions per day. Signage advising motorists of the system led to a reduction in this number, the spokeswoman added.
While the camera system can result in an increase in rear-end crashes, US studies have found it reduces side-impact crashes and reduces overall crash severity.
One 2011 study analysed data on fatal crashes from 14 US cities with red-light camera enforcement systems in place and 48 cities without camera programs for the years 1992–1996 and 2004–2008.
While the average annual rate of fatal red-light–breaking crashes declined for both groups, the rate for cities with red light camera enforcement declined by more (35 per cent against 14 per cent).
