1.2million a MONTH for speed camera vans

Guy:Incognito · 27-07-2017 02:54PM

Shurimgreat wrote: »

I think what sounds like a bigger waste of money is the 500 million contract for the Canadian Company in charge of mapping our shorelines for the rescue helicopters. The fact they missed blackrock lighthouse in belmullet is scandalous, despite being warned repeatedly about it.

I don't think the speed van contract is particularly excessive in comparison and so far they seem to be competent enough.

Were they contracted to map it for the res ue helicopters or by the aviation authority or another body for general aviation use?

Because the lighthouse, and other low obsticles wouldn't feature on the data as they are too low to impact what the mapping would be done for.

My guess is, unless it was commissioned specifically for the rescue helicopters, then it was done for a different purpose and someone went " that's grand, that'll do for the rescue lads too"

Alun · 27-07-2017 02:59PM

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Were they contracted to map it for the res ue helicopters or by the aviation authority or another body for general aviation use?

Neither. CHC have a contract to provide a SAR service, not to map the coastline.

The system in question, EGPWS, is supplied by Honeywell, and the mapping and terrain database contained in it is supplied by third party suppliers, who Honeywell have, so far I believe, refused to name. I have my own theories as to where the height information came from, but I'm not saying anything.

Are Am Eye · 27-07-2017 03:25PM

50 vans.
80 employees.
80 flasks of tea.
160 packets of crisps
80 packets of smokes.
850 porno mags.
80 sleeping bags.

jjbrien · 27-07-2017 04:19PM

RobbieTheRobber wrote: »

So what because of their legal status in the UK they are allowed apply for EU wide tenders. What would you like the Irish government to do ignore EU rules?

Issue is Isle of Man isnt part of the UK or EU but they do have a free trade deal.

Couldnt the guards not just have hired civillian staff like they did for the GNIB to do this job. I hope when the contract ends this is what they do. and 45k a year to operate a speed camera is madeness at best id pay 25k for that job.

AlanG · 27-07-2017 05:04PM

This contract structure is specifically to avoid the "shooting fish in a barrel" accusations that people would be giving out about if the service was about the government making money or the company getting paid commission.
What we really need to compare it to is the price of having a GATSO van on the road for a shift - Depreciation, Garda wage, garda pension etc. I would say this represents value.

blastman · 27-07-2017 05:05PM

Shurimgreat wrote: »

They reckon the cost of one fatal accident is about 1 million euro when all things are taken into consideration. A life changing injury can also cost significant money.

I think if these vans catch some nutcase drivers which they do, and not just for speed but for completely wreckless driving, then they are worth it.

Sorry, but they don't catch nutcase drivers for wreckless driving. It's a machine measuring speed, that's it. If you're doing the speed limit on the wrong side of the road while shaving and texting, it will ignore you.

nice_guy80 · 27-07-2017 06:26PM

Chancer3001 wrote: »

Just a point on where vans are located.

Afaik they are ONLY allowed be placed (in the general area) where there has been a road death in the past.

Unfortunately this pretty much covers the entire country.

a lot of those locations have had the road upgraded since the deaths

speed vans are still there
go figure

Captain Obvious · 27-07-2017 07:51PM

"Feckin speed vans are just money spinners"

"They don't make money"

"Feckin government can't even make speed vans into money spinners. Incompetent fools."

Some people just look for any reason to give out.

endacl · 27-07-2017 08:10PM

Rick Shaw wrote: »

Always chuckle when I read this article about a few buckos Trolling a gatso van down under

Pranksters affixed a license plate stolen from a speed trap camera van to their vehicle and drove through the trap, resulting in the unit’s issuing tickets to itself...

You're aware that the article you linked is from Snopes, an urban myth busting site? That busts the story as bullhickey?

keith_sixteen · 27-07-2017 08:28PM

Captain Obvious wrote: »

Some people just look for any reason to give out.

Bollocks. This is an appalling waste of money and taxpayers should rightly question the extremely generous terms of this contract.

mikofo · 27-07-2017 09:33PM

when the speed van contract was first set up , was it not just about one Kerry man helping out another Kerry man with a declining business model

A Battered Mars Bar · 27-07-2017 09:37PM

Why do we need them? Can we not just set up a wee speed camera off a pole 24/7 be fraction of the cost.

McMurphy · 27-07-2017 10:49PM

endacl wrote: »

You're aware that the article you linked is from Snopes, an urban myth busting site? That busts the story as bullhickey?

"Stepbrothers" wasn't based on a true story either, but I still chuckled at it.

I obviously missed the memo where I must chuckle at non myths only.

#boatsnhos

1.2million a MONTH for speed camera vans

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