Speed cameras in Ireland - a guide

Okay I'm hoping I can be given some assurance here so I won't be nervous watching the post man for the next couple of weeks.

Last night (12.30) I was driving on a 80km country stretch of road it is then, for some silly reason, dropped to a 60km zone for about a mile where speed cameras are known to be placed. Running late I completely forgot about this 60km stretch of road as I continued to drive on at about 80km until I noticed a orange flashing beacon on the roof of a van. At first I presumed it could have been some late roadside assistance or road working but I then noticed the speed van symbol on the side when I was only a couple of yards away from it. I slowed down swiftly and before I could check my speed I had pasted the van. I may have been slightly over 60km at this stage but I'm not sure. The van was on my side of the road but it's rear camera was pointing in the opposite direction. It's seemed like the rear door may have been open and there was definitely some sort of external lights set up on a tripod facing in the direction I was traveling from the rear of the van.

I'm just confused about the whole situation and I have yet to come across anything like this in the forums so far. Perhaps they were just setting up at that stage as I have a feeling the door may have been open at the rear, Or do you think I'll be getting something my notice in the post. Any help will be appreciated

mikeecho wrote: »

http://goo.gl/GtmWZj

It doesn't explain everything

Question for people - can these Gosafe vans see across the barriers on dual carriageways?

I could pretend it was for a friend but I think we all know I'd be kidding no-one. It was on the N6 on Monday afternoon, I was travelling eastbound and the van was parked on the westbound side, underneath the flyover at junction 10. I was after getting some bad news at home and so wasn't concentrating as much as I should have been, so I was still at around 110-115kmph, i.e. motorway speed. I appreciate there is no excuse for that in the sense that it's well signed and I know the area well, but they just caught me on a bad day. My only likely get out now is that the Van can't snap across the barricades, but I'm guessing that's something of a forlorn hope.

I'm carrying six points from back in 2012/13 (I received one notice perfectly fairly and then started to pay much closer attention. However I then got notice of two offences in the post in the space of two days, one for 72kmph in a 60 (fair enough, again) and one for 84kmph in an 80 (very harsh I thought), both after 11pm at night on the same trip). Basically this would be absolutely crippling for me since I have to cover over 20000km with work in a year and not driving is not an option. I'm absolutely meticulous since then for obvious reasons, but they just caught me on a bad day and frankly, paying the amount of insurance I'd have to pay on nine points would be next to impossible. It would nearly be a better option to deliberately get caught again, lose my licence and go back to zero in six months time.

Anyone with any sliver of hope for me?

ironclaw wrote: »

To answer this question, you are safe. They cannot 'see' over the railing / hedge of the central median because if you think about it, how could they possibly see you plate? Secondly, its not technically feasible to do so with the radar unit employed.

I'm unfamiliar with the road in question, but if its the standard two lane in either direction with a decent central median, then you are fine. If its a single lane in either direction with only a lick of paint between them, expect points.



No offence and I mean this in the best way, if you want to speed, no matter the day, accept the consequences of your actions like a mature and responsible adult. I'd say 99% of this forum break the limit on a daily basis, some of us more than others, but yet it's everyones else's fault when we get caught.

Accept the consequences, or slow down and stop the excuses!

First and foremost, thanks for the clarity - that's an immense relief, genuinely. Yes, it's a two lane each way dual carriageway with a concrete barrier in the middle, of approximately 4 feet in height. I guess I wasn't sure if the height of the van would have allowed it to see over it.

And my explanation was just to show why I was so concerned, and the background to why I got to six in the first place - I genuinely don't think any of what I said could be interpreted as saying that I deserve to get away with it, merely that it was a bad day due to personal circumstances which is why it happened. I didn't want to speed at all - just my mind was elsewhere, which I accept would be of no consequence to anyone involved in an accident that I played a part in.

Genuinely, I am keeping it to the limits every day, as I pointed out I'm covering a lot of ground and driving is key to my livelihood, so I pass speed checks at least once or twice a week. Anything else and I'd be off the road by now.

Thank You for your responses to my queries.

ironclaw wrote: »

They detect your speed going towards or away from the rear doors of the van only. There is no detection equipment on the front (Drivers end) of the van.



Honestly, what does common sense tell you? If you can't see an object, how can you possibly tell how fast its going?



Again, see above.



Roughly two and half times the width of the road away from the rear doors.


Depends. How far are you away when you brake. Its an instantaneous an reading so you'd want to be a decent distance away or have a car in front of you.



Yes. But to the average driver it makes no difference. A van is a van, it fulfills the same job.

People are learning not to speed. GoSafe revenue is down and they have expanded the network by 200 plus new approved sites.
One crazy place they set up is outside the school in Ballyjamesduff in a 50 zone and I between 2 massive speed humps.