New cameras to catch motorists breaking red lights at Luas lines

A camera system to catch motorists breaking red lights at Luas junctions is to be introduced at junctions on the tram lines this year.

Footage of motorists breaking lights at Luas junctions will then be assessed by An Garda Síochana to see if penalty points and fixed charges should be imposed.

A trial of the system has been carried out at some crossings in Dublin, and the Department of Transport said a city-wide system is expected to be in place by the end of the year.

The trial has been run by the Railway Procurement Agency, Dublin City Council and An Garda Síochána.

Collisions are more common on the red Luas line, which runs from west Dublin into the north inner city, than the Green line, which crosses fewer streets because it was built on the old Harcourt Street railway line.

Fixed charge
Breaking a red light is punishable by two penalty points on payment of the fixed charge notice, or five on conviction. An €80 fine is also levied, which rises to €120 unpaid within 28 days.

The initial trial involved one camera which was moved between junctions where the Luas red line meets Blackhall Place and Queen Street near the quays.

Wider rollout
The wider rollout can be carried out under existing legislation, and a spokesman for Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said he is fully supportive of the scheme, which would be the first red light camera enforcement in Ireland.

“The Railway Procurement Agency, Dublin City Council and the gardaí have already been trialling a camera system at selected Luas junctions which monitor the number of vehicles breaking red lights,” the spokesman said.

“The RPA and other agencies are confident that later this year it will be possible to put the project on a formal footing and prosecute motorists who break red lights.

“The cameras will be able to send images of vehicles which break red lights at Luas junctions to the gardaí, so that they can be processed as part of the fixed charge notice system.”

The RPA has previously highlighted the failure of motorists and cyclists to stop at red lights at Luas stops, putting themselves and Luas passengers in danger, as well as drivers blocking tram lines.

This introduction of the scheme is likely to be accompanied by a publicity campaign, involving Luas operators Transdev, the RPA, the Department of Transport, Dublin City Council and An Garda Síochána, Mr Varadkar's spokesman added.