AGS Traffic Corps: available statistics

Iwannahurl

I'm opening this thread separately rather than include it as a post in the anti-TC thread that's still open.

For the record, I think the Traffic Corps is a good idea, and I am totally opposed to the (proposed? implemented?) cut in personnel numbers.

I would be interested in getting stats of TC operations over the last few years: eg number of speed checks by county per year, frequency of random breath-testing checkpoints, number and type of Fixed Charge Penalties issued annually etc.

Where might such detailed annual reports be available?

King Ludvig

There's some traffic related stats in the Garda annual reports here: http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=90&Lang=1

Iwannahurl

I just had a quick look at some of the annual reports.

No stats in the more recent ones, AFAICS.

goldie fish

Iwannahurl wrote: »

I just had a quick look at some of the annual reports.

No stats in the more recent ones, AFAICS.

CSO took over garda reports about 2008 I think,from Garda HQ. Format changed dramatically then.

Victor

Some information here: http://garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=138

King Ludvig

Iwannahurl wrote: »

I just had a quick look at some of the annual reports.

No stats in the more recent ones, AFAICS.

Have a look at page 16 in the 2010 report. Dont know where you'll actually get figures on the number of stops etc if such figures are even publicly available. The section of the reports on traffic mainly look at what the traffic corp have been involved in the previous year.

TJJP

http://www.gsinsp.ie/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=39

Techo

19 fatal traffic accidents nation wide for Dec 2011....57 suicides in same period.Don't want to turn it in to a TC bashing thread, but feel government has priorities wrong.Condolences to all families involved.

Thepredator

Techo wrote: »

19 fatal traffic accidents nation wide for Dec 2011....57 suicides in same period.Don't want to turn it in to a TC bashing thread, but feel government has priorities wrong.Condolences to all families involved.

Could it be possible that the figure of 19 be a lot higher if a dedicated traffic corps did not exist? Particularly in a month when people are more likely to hop into their car after a few festive pints.

King Ludvig

In all fairness Techno, the Gardai enforce the law. Suicide is no longer a criminal offence (and rightly so) so as saddening as everyone of those deaths is, I’m not sure what you want the Gardai to do to tackle them? Its health care professionals who are best equipted to help people overcome depression and other factors leading to suicide.

With regard to your figure of 19 road deaths in December 2011, compare that to 2006 or 2007 and unfortunately you'll get a much higher figure. Thankfully the combined efforts of the traffic corps, RSA, etc along with a change in driver behaviour has seen a massive reduction in the number of deaths on our roads.

Techo

King Ludvig wrote: »

In all fairness Techno, the Gardai enforce the law. Suicide is no longer a criminal offence (and rightly so) so as saddening as everyone of those deaths is, I’m not sure what you want the Gardai to do to tackle them? Its health care professionals who are best equipted to help people overcome depression and other factors leading to suicide.

With regard to your figure of 19 road deaths in December 2011, compare that to 2006 or 2007 and unfortunately you'll get a much higher figure. Thankfully the combined efforts of the traffic corps, RSA, etc along with a change in driver behaviour has seen a massive reduction in the number of deaths on our roads.

Don't want Gardai to do anything about suicide, cos they can't.I was merely stating that resources should be directed towards the professionals in this field.I appreciate this is a very complex area though.

Yes, more enforcement probably did reduce the figures.I would say that GoSafe vans have a lot to do with this, and more should be employed nationwide.This would free up TC for regular police work.

Apologies to OP if this has taken a different direction.

Iwannahurl

goldie fish wrote: »

CSO took over garda reports about 2008 I think,from Garda HQ. Format changed dramatically then.

Here's one Google-located report from the CSO, for the years 2004-2008, which includes a range of Traffic offences.

http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/12894/1/CSO_gardacrimestats_2004-2008.pdf

BTW, I'm having trouble understanding the significance of Recorded versus Detected offences.

These figures give a good overview of the level of the main recorded/detected Traffic offences, as well as an insight into certain issues, such as the fact that the vast majority of offenders in many crime categories are males:

Of the persons convicted of Road and Traffic Offences recorded in 2008, almost 60% were for Roadworthiness/Regulatory Offences. Males constituted 85.3% of all persons convicted of offences in this group, with 72.6% of them aged from 18 to 44.

I'd be very interested to see TC operational stats also, eg frequency of checkpoints in different areas. GoSafe is having an impact because the programme is highly visible and gives the impression that there's a reasonable chance of being detected if you are speeding in certain areas. I don't believe motorists feel the same way about other offences in other areas, such as speeding on urban/residential streets, use of mobile phones while driving, dangerous overtaking, hazardous parking etc. This is why I think the TC should be even more active and more visible. Cutting the TC is madness, IMO, and gives the wrong message altogether.

goldie fish

Recorded= Crime reported
Detected= Culprit identified-case closed.

Zambia

Techo wrote: »

19 fatal traffic accidents nation wide for Dec 2011....57 suicides in same period.Don't want to turn it in to a TC bashing thread, but feel government has priorities wrong.Condolences to all families involved.

Techno you should try searching for a stat on the amount of time gardai spend on people calling 999 stating they are about to commit suicide.

Iwannahurl

The suicide issue, though extremely serious and tragic, is a separate issue. That said, I wish people (usually motorists) would stop their special pleading in relation to suicide versus road deaths. It's a totally unjustifiable comparison which demonstrates a major lack of comprehension about both problems, IMO.

Anyway, I'm still not much wiser regarding Traffic Corps operational stats, such as the number of checkpoints per division per year.

Numbers of detections are all very well, but how much information do such stats give regarding the level of enforcement and the chances of detection?

Beruthiel

Techo wrote: »

19 fatal traffic accidents nation wide for Dec 2011....57 suicides in same period.

That's shocking.
Where can I get those figures online?