Should speed cameras be hidden.

I think speed vans should be scrapped and instead hire more guards to park up in random areas. I haven't seen a Garda speed trap in ages. There is only one speed van in my area so drivers know that once they have passed it they can then safely put the foot down for the rest of their journey

Most drivers have nothing to worry about, also most drivers might exceed the limit occasionally, if there are unknown sneaky speed cameras these usually relaxed drivers will be thinking of other things other than the road in front of them

Mobile speed detection placed on the on ramps of dual carriageways/motorways is a good way to catch excessive speeders unawares as you won't know you've been caught until you see the blue lights flashing behind you or else you are signalled by Gardai ahead to pull over. This method is actually a very fair method for those who feel it's fine to drive a fair bit over the limit on such roads as a Guard who is checking speeds with the "hair dryer" will not be bothered pursuing someone only a little over the limit, he/she will wait until someone well over the limit is detected……say something like 120 km/h in a 100 zone or something along those lines….possibly even higher.

A case in point was when I was driving on the N4 westbound near Mullingar a few weeks ago, doing my usual 102/103 km/h. A dark blue Opel Insignia estate passed by me, doing about 120 or so, with a silver VW Golf behind it. About 30 seconds later, both cars were a fair bit ahead but still within my vision. Both cars were still in the overtaking lane. Next of all, blue lights started flashing on the Insignia. It was an unmarked Garda car. However, when the Golf pulled back into the driving lane (and slowed down), the Guard switched the blue lights back off and continued on. In other words, he was telling the Golf driver to slow down but wasn't taking it further as the Golf driver was not going all that much higher than the limit and the road conditions were good with light traffic. A few minutes later, after I passed junction 17, the Guard had a car pulled in…….that car was probably driving even faster than the Golf so the Guard would have thought this driver needed a word in his/her ear, or more. That's my assumption on it, based on my observation. I can't be fully sure that is why the second car was pulled in and the Golf was not.