Road safety and detecting speeding

Time for our politicians to step up to the mark

Sir, – Monday’s National Slow Down Day saw over 300 motorists caught speeding by high-visibility Go Safe vans. More than 100,000 motorists were monitored.

Contrast this with the June 2023 Galway County Council speed-survey of vehicles entering Craughwell from the Loughrea direction. Of 45,000 vehicles entering the 60km/h zone, 84 per cent were speeding with the average speed registered at 88km/h.

The crucial difference was the latter survey was done by an unmarked detection system. Ciaran Cannon TD brought this survey to the Dáil’s attention and the Taoiseach promised to act.

Simple, effective solutions are deployed by all our European neighbours, yet our Government and related State agencies have done very little by way of targeted measures, such as hidden speed cameras, junction cameras, artificial intelligence cameras that can detect phone usage, no seat belts, etc.

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There should be double points in high-risk school and roadworks zones, while points should be introduced for driving in or obstructing bus and bike lanes.

We are now entering into a seasonal period of darker and wetter days when active travellers and motorists alike will face heightened risk. Time for our politicians to step up to the mark. – Yours, etc,

STEPHEN McGOVERN,

Donnybrook,

Dublin 4.