The operators of the Luas want to place closed circuit TV cameras at busy junctions in an effort to reduce the number of motorists breaking red lights.passengers figure
The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA), the State agency responsible for the provision of the Luas, said yesterday that seven of the 10 accidents involving the light rail system have been as a result of cars flouting traffic signals.
Mr Frank Allen, the RPA's chief executive, said while some accidents involved clipped wing mirrors or paint damage, three involved people being brought to hospital.
He said the section of the line between Heuston and Connolly Station was the cause for most concern.
"There hasn't been good compliance with red lights. There are warning signs. We tend to see people driving straight through red lights either early in the morning or late at night," Mr Allen told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport.
The RPA said it was considering placing additional warning signs and speed cameras at key junctions to help improve driver compliance with traffic lights.
Gardaí have told the RPA there are "legislative impediments" to using evidence obtained from the cameras in court, however, the agency believes they will still act as a deterrent notwithstanding this.
Overall, Mr Allen said he was pleased with the safety record of the Luas given that the service has recorded only 10 accidents while transporting an estimated 3.5 million passengers in its short life time. However, he said he would be "very worried" if the pattern of a relatively high number of accidents in recent days continued.
One accident involved two trams colliding near St Stephen's Green on September 17th.
Mr Allen said a report into the crash concluded it was the result of driver error and fresh guidelines had been issued to staff to help ensure there was no repeat of the accident. An RPA official also pointed out that there have been around 25 accidents so far this year involving collisions at level crossings for normal train services in the greater Dublin area.
Mr Allen also confirmed that the Luas has been running at a slower speed than planned on the Heuston-Connolly Station section of the line due to safety concerns.
He said, however, it was planned that the trams' frequency would increase from one every 10 minutes to one every seven-and-a-half minutes by the end of this month. It is anticipated they will run once every five minutes early in 2005.
RPA officials estimated that the Luas has been carrying almost 50,000 passengers a day, while as many as half of passengers have switched to the tram from their car. It has also recorded what is says is an encouraging compliance rate for the payment of fares. So far it has issued almost 1,000 fines, or "standard fares", of €45 for passengers without tickets.
Officials said there appeared to be greater compliance on the Tallaght line compared to the Sandyford line.
