Eamon Ryan announces increased cameras to cut down on cars in bus lanes

There will be increased use of traffic cameras in bus lanes to tackle “disimproved behaviour” on our roads since the pandemic, Eamon Ryan has confirmed. The Green Party leader and Transport Minister stated that too many cars that are not taxis or buses are driving in bus lanes. He also committed to the rollout of more average speed cameras across the country.

READ MORE: Three Irish cities to get ‘mobility hubs’ next year, Eamon Ryan confirms There has been an increased Government focus on road safety over recent months. So far this year, Ireland has seen 178 road deaths and more than 900 serious injuries sustained due to accidents. There were 155 fatalities in all of 2022.

Minister Ryan said that he believes that drivers’ behaviour has gotten worse since the COVID-19 pandemic. One issue that will be tackled in the new year, he stated, is cars using bus lanes they are not supposed to be in. He said that “effective speed cameras” in bus lanes are required.

“The policing of the bus lanes is really problematic,” Minister Ryan said. “Behaviour has disimproved through and after COVID. So [we will be] using a lot of that camera technology to enforce the use of bus lanes.

“That will help in terms of speed and also speed management in the city urban areas. ” Some €27m will be spent on road safety next year, which will include an expansion of average speed cameras. There is currently one of these types of devices in use in Ireland, including in the Dublin Port Tunnel and on the M7 Dublin-Limerick motorway.

These cameras work by recording speed at two different points and determining whether you have driven along a stretch of road too quickly. Minister Ryan said that he was not yet sure how many average speed cameras would be rolled out but it is likely to be in the “high single digits”. He said he will go to Scotland where they have been implemented to see how well they are working.

He explained: “We’re looking to roll out a number of [average speed cameras] in other locations, particularly on national primaries [roads] which aren’t segregated where there’s a real safety issue. ” The new cameras will be the latest in a number of measures taken to address the number of fatalities on the road. Cabinet agreed earlier this week to approve the publication of the Road Traffic Bill 2023.

The Bill aims to provide for penalty point reform, mandatory drug testing at the scene of serious collisions and safer speed limits. Under the plans, default speed limits on different road types will change. The default speed limit on national secondary roads to reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h, while the speed limit for local and rural roads to reduce from 80km/h to 60km/h.

On urban roads and in built up areas, speed limits will drop to 30km/h. Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone.

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