Speed camera initiative ‘not ready until 2005’
Fine Gael’s Transport spokesperson, Denis Naughten, said the cameras could be installed sooner if the political will was there.
Mr Naughten is also worried that the private company running the system will place cameras in 30-mile-an-hour zones rather than on dangerous roads.
“My fear is that they will try to make quick money and avoid putting the cameras where they are most needed,” he said.
At the moment, only three fixed speed cameras are in use nationwide to tackle speeding drivers at any one time.
In total, there are just 20 fixed speed camera locations in Ireland and these are confined to Dublin, Louth and Meath.
Transport Minister Seamus Brennan and Justice Minister Michael McDowell will soon ask the Cabinet to back the new initiative, aimed at reducing road deaths.
The ministers have consulted with the attorney general on the issue and they are confident the privately-run system will lead to successful prosecutions.
The cameras will cost €30,000 each and gardaí will decide the locations for the speed detectors, which will feed details of offenders into a national computer system.
The Government hope the cameras will cut the number of road deaths here, with the country currently ranking mid-table in the EU league for fatalities.
However, secondary school students believe the Government should introduce tougher laws to force drivers to slow down.
A majority of the 3,500 students questioned as part of the FBD Insurance/National Parents Council Post Primary (NPCPP) Think Safety First campaign want a clampdown on motorists.
Students want more graphic advertisement campaigns, a rise in the legal driving age, a harder driving test, increased penalty points for speeding and more gardaí on the roads.
