PSNI launches anti-speeding drive
Police in Northern Ireland today launched a major drive to reduce the carnage on the North's roads through the introduction of a network of fixed and mobile speed cameras.
The announcement came after a series of shocking accidents which have claimed the lives of 18 people so far this year – 11 of them under the age of 18.
Superintendent Ian Hamill, head of the Police Service Road Policing Development Branch said they had a target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by one third.
Speed is the biggest cause of all fatalities and serious injuries in Northern Ireland with over 29% of deaths due to excess speed.
The superintendent said: “I strongly believe that the introduction of the fixed camera scheme will make a significant impact and reduce the numbers of people killed and injured on our roads.”
The new scheme will be operational by July 1 and the first phase will see the increase in the use of existing mobile speed cameras and an increase in their numbers from five to seven.
As the scheme progresses 20 new digital fixed site speed cameras and 14 new digital red light running cameras will be introduced.
Superintendent Hamill said the new digital cameras represented the most advanced technology available and the Police Service would be the first force to use them.
He also revealed the PSNI were at an advanced stage of investigating a number of other technologies including “speed over distance” cameras.
Under that scheme a motorist would be clocked at one point in the road and again several miles further on. If the average speed is above the limit a fixed penalty notice would arrive in the post a few days later.
Superintendent Hamill said that last year 30,000 motorists had been detected for speeding in Northern Ireland.
“Thirty thousand who ignored advice not to speed, 30,000 who ignored the carnage on the roads.
“We will be very strong on this. Motorists have had the advice and they have seen the TV advertisements. If they continue to ignore it we will catch them and they will pay the penalty.
“This is about making the roads of Northern Ireland safer for everyone to use, that is the bottom line.
“I don’t want to have to issue fixed penalties but if motorists ignore our advice rest assured we intend to catch them.”
He was accompanied by Northern Ireland Environment Minister Angela Smith at the campaign launch
She said: “The message has to go out to motorists that we are going to catch you. The consequences of that are a penalty and points on your licence, you could lose your licence and some people may lose their livelihoods.
“Work with us on this, we want to cut down deaths and serious injuries, show us you do as well and slow down.”
The minister said all the evidence showed excessive speed was the single biggest cause of death and serious injury on the roads.
“I have no doubt that the extra safety cameras announced by the PSNI will bring about a dramatic reduction in speed-related collisions.”
The fixed cameras locations will be widely publicised by police and the mobile units, operating from the back of vans will work in conjunction with them in nearby roads.
The minister and the police chief launched the campaign at a roadside press conference outside the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum on the main Belfast/Bangor Road.
For over 40 motorists there will be a nasty surprise in the post in the next few days.
A mobile speed camera brought in for the press launch clocked several dozen cars breaking the speed limit.
