New Gatso Vans

Drax

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/hitech-speeding-traps-hit-the-road-1479689.html

A fleet of state-of-the-art Gatso vans -- mobile speed detection vehicles -- will hit the nation's roads from today.

The launch comes after Taoiseach Brian Cowen became involved in a speeding controversy yesterday.

The eight Gatso vans are fitted with a hi-tech devices which were not available in the two vehicles they are replacing.

Senior gardai believe they will make the Traffic Corps more effective. It will be expanded further later this year.

The vans will be deployed at targeted locations where serious road accidents have taken place over the past few years. Senior officers drew up a list of some 700 blackspots after analysing accident statistics.

One officer said last night : "A lot of research has been carried out to ensure that the Gatsos are used to maximum effect to reduce the death and serious injury toll on the roads".

Details of the blackspots will be published on the Garda website and motorists regularly using those roads will be encouraged to slow down.

"We would prefer if the level of speeding was reduced voluntarily by motorists adopting safer driving habits rather than being pushed into taking great care by increased detections."

The vans will be launched today by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy at the Garda College in Templemore.

The Government wants to see the number of deaths and serious injuries cut by 5pc this year. The Garda have been asked to focus particularly on reducing accidents among young drivers.

Interesting to see where these vans will be deployed.

Cookie_Monster

Newspaper wrote:

The launch comes after Taoiseach Brian Cowen became involved in a speeding controversy yesterday.

, whats that about?

antodeco

I wonder if the n7 after the redcow heading towards town is a blackspot :rolleyes:

Drax

I chopped this bit off... (from the same article)

Meanwhile, the Government has said it will not be commenting on allegations that the Taoiseach's State car was speeding while transporting Mr Cowen to the Fianna Fail think-in last week.

Mr Cowen's car was travelling at 106kph in an 80kph zone in Galway and passing another car on what appeared to be a continuous white line, it was claimed in a Sunday newspaper.

The Taoiseach's office said it was a matter for the gardai.

joolsveer

I read yesterday's Mail on Sunday which had sequential photos of a Merc which had Brian Cowen in the passenger seat. The article said that the car was being driven at excessive speeed and that it had crossed a single white line while overtaking. It is claimed that they used a calibrated radar gun to check the speed.

Link http://www.mailonsunday.ie/news/worldnews/article-1058823/Irish-bid-clamp-road-deaths--MoS-clocks-leaders-cars-speeding-112mph.html

Curvy Vixen

Isn't this where they will be??

http://www.garda.ie/sez/Speed_Enforcement_Zones.htm

_Kaiser_

The eight Gatso vans are fitted with a hi-tech devices which were not available in the two vehicles they are replacing.

Like what?

Zorba

Was or is there not some site that has members of the public listing where they've seen speed checks and gatsos ? Can't remember the name of it.

allybhoy

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Like what?

Plasma screens, dvd player and a coffee machine!

eringobragh

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Like what?

This crowd have the tender http://ww.tele-traffic.co.uk

It'll be probably be along the lines of this:

http://www.teletrafficuk.com/commander.htm

Don't expect any suprises. I'd take a guess that the LTIs have been upgraded
to the Ultralyte /w Microdigicam and they record on DVD as opposed to VHS

maidhc

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Like what?

Probably can check more than one lane of traffic.

lynchie

I've fixed the article for you

A fleet of state-of-the-art Gatso vans -- mobile speed detection vehicles -- will hit the nation's roads from today.

The launch comes after Taoiseach Brian Cowen became involved in a speeding controversy yesterday.

The eight Gatso vans are fitted with a hi-tech devices which were not available in the two vehicles they are replacing.

Senior gardai believe they will make the Traffic Corps more effective. It will be expanded further later this year.

The vans will be deployed at targeted locations where the most revenue can be generated. Senior officers drew up a list of some 700 revenue generating blackspots after analysing previous statistics.

One officer said last night : "A lot of research has been carried out to ensure that the Gatsos are used to maximum effect to increase revenue generation now that the goverment's coffers are quite low.".

Details of the blackspots will be published on the Garda website and motorists regularly using those roads will be encouraged to slow down.

"We would prefer if the level of speeding was reduced voluntarily by motorists adopting safer driving habits rather than being pushed into taking great care by increased detections."

The vans will be launched today by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy at the Garda College in Templemore.

The Government wants to see the number of deaths and serious injuries cut by 5pc this year. The Garda have been asked to focus particularly on reducing accidents among young drivers.

D_murph

lynchie wrote: »

I've fixed the article for you

A fleet of state-of-the-art Gatso vans -- mobile speed detection vehicles -- will hit the nation's roads from today.

The launch comes after Taoiseach Brian Cowen became involved in a speeding controversy yesterday.

The eight Gatso vans are fitted with a hi-tech devices which were not available in the two vehicles they are replacing.

Senior gardai believe they will make the Traffic Corps more effective. It will be expanded further later this year.

The vans will be deployed at targeted locations where the most revenue can be generated. Senior officers drew up a list of some 700 revenue generating blackspots after analysing previous statistics.

One officer said last night : "A lot of research has been carried out to ensure that the Gatsos are used to maximum effect to increase revenue generation now that the goverment's coffers are quite low.".

Details of the blackspots will be published on the Garda website and motorists regularly using those roads will be encouraged to slow down.

"We would prefer if the level of speeding was reduced voluntarily by motorists adopting safer driving habits rather than being pushed into taking great care by increased detections."

The vans will be launched today by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy at the Garda College in Templemore.

The Government wants to see the number of deaths and serious injuries cut by 5pc this year. The Garda have been asked to focus particularly on reducing accidents among young drivers.

sounds more like the truth to me...........

_feedback_

Curvy Vixen wrote: »

Isn't this where they will be??

http://www.garda.ie/sez/Speed_Enforcement_Zones.htm

Yeah, I think so ...

I'm looking at areas that would be familiar to me (Westmeath). They really are having a laugh trying to say that this area is a black spot for fatal accidents due to speeding:

Garda Website wrote:

Westmeath 13 km Kinnegad 53.450000 -7.093611 The Downs 53.505556 -7.244167 N4/M4

It's where the motorway meets the Dual carriageway, and the speed limit drops from 120 kmph to 100 kmph.

Sickens me the way they publicise it as high visibility policing of dangerous roads to cut down the road fatality rate by 5% this year.

Lads, if you actually want to do that, include some of the back roads between Tullamore/Mullingar , Tullamore/Athlone, Mullingar/Athlone as your black spots.

niceirishfella

eringobragh wrote: »

This crowd have the tender http://ww.tele-traffic.co.uk

It'll be probably be along the lines of this:

http://www.teletrafficuk.com/commander.htm

Don't expect any suprises. I'd take a guess that the LTIs have been upgraded
to the Ultralyte /w Microdigicam and they record on DVD as opposed to VHS

Thanks for this......if you're right, then its NISSAN PRIMASTAR/RENAULT or OPEL/VAUXHALL VIVARO's to look out for on our roads -

the olde high roof transits used to easy to spot. Gonna have to keep these new van types front of mind.:eek:

_feedback_

niceirishfella wrote: »

Thanks for this......if you're right, then its NISSAN PRIMASTAR/RENAULT or OPEL/VAUXHALL VIVARO's to look out for on our roads -

the olde high roof transits used to easy to spot. Gonna have to keep these new van types front of mind.:eek:

Just to note, these new vans will be marked.

niceirishfella

elviscostello wrote: »

Just to note, these new vans will be marked.

Great!:)
with what elvis - high viz markings etc?

_feedback_

niceirishfella wrote: »

Great!:)
with what evlis - high viz markings etc?

I don't know, reports on RTE news at lunch just said they'd be marked as normal Garda vehicles.

niceirishfella

How about big clear WRITING on all panels SAYING.....

WANKER INSIDE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL!

Sizzler

Curvy Vixen wrote: »

Isn't this where they will be??

http://www.garda.ie/sez/Speed_Enforcement_Zones.htm

F**king joke if it is ! Pinnock Hill being a prime example. This was the old Dublin-Belfast road with a 60mph(100 kmh) speed limit. They have since widened it by about 33% in recent years and obviously the M1 replaced it ten odd years ago but yet they have reduced the speed limit to 36mph (60kmh). LOB. I can count on one hand the amount of crashes I have seen on it.

TheNog

Sizzler wrote: »

F**king joke if it is ! Pinnock Hill being a prime example. This was the old Dublin-Belfast road with a 60mph(100 kmh) speed limit. They have since widened it by about 33% in recent years and obviously the M1 replaced it ten odd years ago but yet they have reduced the speed limit to 36mph (60kmh). LOB. I can count on one hand the amount of crashes I have seen on it.

Thats right, the amount of crashes you have seen!!!!! but there was probably alot more you didn't see. I'm presuming of course that you are not the type of person to sit at the roadside for the past 10 years.

Sizzler

TheNog wrote: »

Thats right, the amount of crashes you have seen!!!!! but there was probably alot more you didn't see. I'm presuming of course that you are not the type of person to sit at the roadside for the past 10 years.

Nice slant on what I meant :rolleyes:

For avoidance of doubt, its not an accident black spot or a road in the least bit synonymous with accidents.

_feedback_

TheNog wrote: »

Thats right, the amount of crashes you have seen!!!!! but there was probably alot more you didn't see. I'm presuming of course that you are not the type of person to sit at the roadside for the past 10 years.

Seriously man, what's the point in trying to say that the spot the above poster is talking about, is a serious black spot. It's simply not. The same as the area in Westmeath I posted about a couple of posts back.

There are a lot more dangerous spots that are not listed on the Garda website. It's a joke.

blastman

Why are they using vans at accident blackspots anyway? Surely a blackspot, which by definition is a dangerous place for traffic, is the last place to park a ruddy great van?!? A fixed speed camera, which wouldn't be anything like as much of a hazard and would be there permanently to make sure drivers slow down at a dangerous spot in the road, would be far more sensible.

The water's lovely in my pool of sarcasm, especially here in the deep end.

TheNog

Sizzler wrote: »

Nice slant on what I meant :rolleyes:

For avoidance of doubt, its not an accident black spot or a road in the least bit synonymous with accidents.

But you are giving your point on what you have seen or may have heard from other people but the truth of it is even if you live nearby or drive by that area once or twice a day does not mean you know of every accident that occurs on that stretch. Ok so we could agree that if there was a serious accident you may know about it but what about the minor accidents, near misses or reports of dangerous driving? You probably wouldn't have heard of them.

elviscostello wrote: »

Seriously man, what's the point in trying to say that the spot the above poster is talking about, is a serious black spot. It's simply not. The same as the area in Westmeath I posted about a couple of posts back.

There are a lot more dangerous spots that are not listed on the Garda website. It's a joke.

But wasn't there a couple of people killed at The Downs in the last 3-4 years? Anyway other areas you have pointed out such as Mullngar to Tullamore can still be subject to speed checks carried out by gardai with a handheld.

TheNog

blastman wrote: »

Why are they using vans at accident blackspots anyway? Surely a blackspot, which by definition is a dangerous place for traffic, is the last place to park a ruddy great van?!? A fixed speed camera, which wouldn't be anything like as much of a hazard and would be there permanently to make sure drivers slow down at a dangerous spot in the road, would be far more sensible.

The water's lovely in my pool of sarcasm, especially here in the deep end.

I think we can presume the vans will not be parked on the road but rather just off the road say at a lay-by, hard shoulder, grass verge etc

_feedback_

TheNog wrote: »

But wasn't there a couple of people killed at The Downs in the last 3-4 years? Anyway other areas you have pointed out such as Mullngar to Tullamore can still be subject to speed checks carried out by gardai with a handheld.

Yes, there have been a number of fatal accidents in The Downs in the recent past. A pedestrian was killed on the dual carriageway very late at night. I wont go in to details, but lets say, speeding was most certainly not the cause of the accident. Two people were also killed in May 07 when their car left the road and hit a tree, about two and a half miles away from the dual carriageway, down a back road in the downs.

So why plonk the new GATSO on the section where the motorway ends and speed limits change?!Is it to stop a guy a few miles away, on a completely different road hitting a tree?? I don't think so.

Why don't they publish the reasoning behind the black spots?!

The Mullingar/Tullamore etc. roads may be subject to speed checks by 'gardai with a handheld' but why are they not listed as black spots then?

JimmyCrackCorn!

Utter ****e as usual.

Vans will be parked in the usual spots.

Lucan near the penny hill pub.
M4 after the roadworks at leixlip

N7 where the Garda BMW parks on the offramps
N7 Church coming into the Village to catch people who dont slow down in time(name i cant remember)
Toumgraney leaving and entering the village


Galway ring road by ballybrit
Galway Headford road roundabout

Ennis dual carriageways to limerick and new bypass
Ennis Lehinch road


Iv only seen a speed trap outside a school twice in 10 years both were on a saturday and sunday

EDIT:
One other question no one else asked.

If a tabloid rag could catch cowen speeding in an obvious setup (gun,location,camera). How often does his driver drive like a twat. Quite a bit if you can justify that effort to catch him.

I speed im guilty of that but his speed was excessive and was in the driving Ban zone + 40mph. Unless Cowen was dieing and on the way to the hospital its not excusable.

niceirishfella

Saw then there on the 6 o clock news.

They are all high roof white Transits with standard Garda Emblems and writing on them.

bikki

Went past to speed checks in the space of 5 miles on the M1 on sunday.

They where zapping all the Tyrone lads come back from the match with there northern reg cars :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Also the white high top transit is now green so it can blend in with the bush's when they park it off in them on the side verg :rolleyes:

L1011

elviscostello wrote: »

Yeah, I think so ...

I'm looking at areas that would be familiar to me (Westmeath). They really are having a laugh trying to say that this area is a black spot for fatal accidents due to speeding:

It's where the motorway meets the Dual carriageway, and the speed limit drops from 120 kmph to 100 kmph.

Admittedly the crossing-traffic dual carriageway section of that road IS very dangerous. The few KM's of grade seperated run-out from the motorway with Jersey barrier, however, isn't. Both standards of road would be 70mph north of the border.

Seth Brundle

Just saw the following in an articvle on the Irish Times:

The equipment is to be targeted at zones with the highest crash records. Eighty per cent of these zones are to be listed publicly on the Garda website.
The remaining 20 per cent will remain secret for "covert enforcement" of speeding and other traffic regulations.

Is this to cover the fact that 8 vans are marked and the old three unmarked ones are 'covert'?

WHITE_P

Link to the RTE news clip. You will need Real Player to view.

Not highly visable IMO, just regular Garda signs on plain white vans.

As for the blackspots, from the quick look I had at the garda website, relative to the areas I'm familiar with, most appear to be good straight roads, with good visability in both directions, all the better for revenue collection, them to catch unsuspecting motorists, not paying attention to their speed.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0922/roads.html

Padraig Mor

Looks like the entire South Ring Road in Cork is a "black spot"!

_feedback_

MYOB wrote: »

Admittedly the crossing-traffic dual carriageway section of that road IS very dangerous. The few KM's of grade seperated run-out from the motorway with Jersey barrier, however, isn't. Both standards of road would be 70mph north of the border.

Yeah, that isn't the best spot ... but if you look at the positioning they are talking about, it is M4/N4 which is very obviously focusing on the few Km's of grade separated run-out that you mentioned.

The reasoning behind the choosing of the 'blackspots' seems very vague on the Garda website. If they could offer some of their research up there too it would be good, but don't think that will happen.

They are contradicting themselves completely by saying they are going for a high-vis approach when everything that was shown yesterday actually paints a different picture.

chickenhawk

I won't be surprised when I see the vans on the N4 in Sligo. Most of which is a good road apart from one stretch from Castlebaldwin to Collooney where I know I can go as fast as I like (not that I will) because the guards will never be there. It has a very high accident rate and I know a crash happened on it on sunday morning with some lads critically injured.

If the guards wanted to stop accidents they would start putting unmarked cars driving along this bit of road and place these gatso vans on safe areas along the road. They won't though because only a few cars speed on this stretch so they won't make as much money.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Anyone know if the new vans are laser or radar speed detectors?

Tigger

n4 into sligo is a motorway spec strech of road with a 100kmph limit

apparently its a black spot

niceirishfella

Darwin Glamorous Saddle wrote: »

Anyone know if the new vans are laser or radar speed detectors?

dunno, but it said on the telly report that they could operate in bad weather and @ night.


BOOOOOOOOO..............!:mad:

eringobragh

Darwin Glamorous Saddle wrote: »

Anyone know if the new vans are laser or radar speed detectors?

Suprisingly RADAR - The systems called the 'MultaRadar C'

Its horizontally polarised radar (K band). But low powered, so harder to detect.

You'll need a pretty decent detector to get this in time and detection range on a **** detector would be >100m (They snap your plate 10-15m) A good one would get you at least 300m depending on the scenario.

adharc

Question 1 for the gardai: Why was Cowen's driver not prosecuted for (a)exceeding the speed limit and (b)observed and witnessed going over a white line. This should be investigated by the Garda ombudsman.

Question 2 for the gardai: Why do you park your Gatso and other cars on the hard shoulder of motorways and fast roads. This is very dangerous and indeed the most dangerous part of a motorway for collisions and serious accidents.

Question 3 for the gardai: Why do you not prosecute people for parking on the hard shoulder of a motorway to answer phones etc (ie non-emergency).

Finally I totally agree that the M4/N6 junction is artificial and is built by the M4 contracters so 120kph should exist for a few more km towards Mullingar and should have been upgraded to motorway status.

Our man in Havana

Answer to question 1, a garda on duty cannot be prosecuted for breaking traffic laws such as speeding as it is done in the course of his duties.

Seth Brundle

Answer to Q3: how do you know they don't prosecute people?

kilkennycat2004

Query........

A quiet Saturday morning.

The same check point on the Naas road, the same day , the same speed, two fines, both for exactly the same offence ,91 KMH in a 60.

Two hours time diference, going in either direction.

What are the chances firstly & secondly will both fines & penalty points have to be paid along with the double helping of penalty points?

JimmyCrackCorn!

Saw one of them parked behind the bus stop in Lucan just past the penny hill pub again.

Sneaky sneaky

chickenhawk

kilkennycat2004 wrote: »

Query........

A quiet Saturday morning.

The same check point on the Naas road, the same day , the same speed, two fines, both for exactly the same offence ,91 KMH in a 60.

Two hours time diference, going in either direction.

What are the chances firstly & secondly will both fines & penalty points have to be paid along with the double helping of penalty points?

Waterford ring road by any chance??

It's two separate offences so unless they don't send them out or forgot to take down something then you'll get two fines and four points.

robbie99

chickenhawk wrote: »

Waterford ring road by any chance??

No, the Nass Road.

delly

kilkennycat2004 wrote: »

What are the chances firstly & secondly will both fines & penalty points have to be paid along with the double helping of penalty points?

Maybe i'm missing something here, but why wouldn't both fines be paid and two sets of points handed out? The first offence has nothing to do with the second.

Hooch

kilkennycat2004 wrote: »

Query........

A quiet Saturday morning.

The same check point on the Naas road, the same day , the same speed, two fines, both for exactly the same offence ,91 KMH in a 60.

Two hours time diference, going in either direction.

What are the chances firstly & secondly will both fines & penalty points have to be paid along with the double helping of penalty points?

Two seperate offences at two seperate time. You must pay both or it will result in a summons to court.

Its the same as if your caught in March and September. No difference in the eyes of the law im afraid. You committed two seperate offences so 4 points im afraid.

Seth Brundle

JimmyCrackCorn! wrote: »

Saw one of them parked behind the bus stop in Lucan just past the penny hill pub again.

Sneaky sneaky

That one is frequently there!

jmck87

For any gardai that feel they are not shooting fish in a barrel to collect revenue:

For one month - do not issue any penalty points or fines. Tell your boss that you stood outside a school everyday to deter motorists from speeding.

Then when you see the telling off you get, you'll probably resort back to collecting :rolleyes: