Gardai operating 'gotcha' speed traps.

Roger_007 · 07-08-2013 6:17pm #1

I was leaving Dublin airport today driving on the link road from the roundabout on the old N1 towards the roundabout on the M1. I noticed the Gardaí had set up a speed check near the latter roundabout. I am not sure what speed I was driving at but it was not very fast. I don't know if I will get a ticket for this but if I do, there should be dozens of others because everyone seemed to be driving at the same speed as me, i.e. a safe speed.
I mentioned this incident to a friend and he told me that there is a speed trap there every other day. If this is true, then I would consider this to be a very cynical exercise on the part of the Gardaí. They are supposed to concentrate their resources on known black spots. I don't think this road would be an accident black spot.
Have the Gardaí gone back to 'shooting fish in a barrel' again? It is difficult to have respect for them when they operate a 'gotcha' policy.

The_Valeyard · 07-08-2013 6:18pm

Roger_007 wrote: »

I was leaving Dublin airport today driving on the link road from the roundabout on the old N1 towards the roundabout on the M1. I noticed the Gardaí had set up a speed check near the latter roundabout. I am not sure what speed I was driving at but it was not very fast. I don't know if I will get a ticket for this but if I do, there should be dozens of others because everyone seemed to be driving at the same speed as me, i.e. a safe speed.
I mentioned this incident to a friend and he told me that there is a speed trap there every other day. If this is true, then I would consider this to be a very cynical exercise on the part of the Gardaí. They are supposed to concentrate their resources on known black spots. I don't think this road would be an accident black spot.
Have the Gardaí gone back to 'shooting fish in a barrel' again? It is difficult to have respect for them when they operate a 'gotcha' policy.

Yeah I know exactly what your on about, they operate on both sides of the road there, just where there is a sudden speed limit change.

Money making racket, plain and simple.

123 LC · 07-08-2013 6:20pm

what was the limit there? well they have the limit for some reason, so that's probably the more safe speed...

Banjo String · 07-08-2013 6:28pm

I actually seen them there today OP would have been shortly before lunch time?

I happen to be working this week in and around the Airport/Docks area (I do week about north and south) but this week alone:

Yesterday, I was stopped on the Long mile road by revenue and gards. Green diesel check, and then some lady checking who I worked for, had I a PPS number, where I lived and where I payed tax. (social welfare fraud I think)

Then abot an hour later in the Fonthill area, stopped and checked for tax/DOE and insurance by more Gards.

Passed that speed trap today at the airport, headed towards port tunnel.

Stopped in the docks by another tax/insurance checkpoint.

A few weeks back I was on my way to Athy to a customers premises lateish (9.30pm) and there was a feckin mobile speed camera/van catching lads coming into the town from the Kilcullen direction :mad:

I have a northern license, so thankfully cant get points put on it, but I believe thats about to change.

I reckon the TROIKA have demanded our lads get on the roads as revenue raisers.

Aineoil · 07-08-2013 6:36pm

There was a mobile speed camera in Moyasta County Clare, last Sunday (the Bank Holiday) around 4 o' clock. The speed limit goes from 100 to 50 on a straight stretch of road. It's not built up, all I could see was one pub and the old fashioned train. It's not safe to go from 100 to 50 in such a short space.

Money making racket.

Iwannahurl · 07-08-2013 6:38pm

Roger_007 wrote: »

I don't know if I will get a ticket for this but if I do, there should be dozens of others because everyone seemed to be driving at the same speed as me, i.e. a safe speed.

Can you elaborate a bit on your logic there? Was your speed over the limit, and how do you know it was a "safe speed"?

The Backwards Man · 07-08-2013 6:40pm

Roger_007 wrote: »

I am not sure what speed I was driving at

Not cool 007, not cool at all.

VinLieger · 07-08-2013 6:42pm

Actually the gardai have no such orders to concentrate on blackspots which is why you will see them doing speed traps in places similar to this. For instance alot of the N11 is 60k speed limit but the natural driving speed along it is 80k so they grab people there. They're only orders is for numbers they care naught for safety

ScumLord · 07-08-2013 6:48pm

Iwannahurl wrote: »

Can you elaborate a bit on your logic there? Was your speed over the limit, and how do you know it was a "safe speed"?

It's pretty difficult to do an unsafe speed at that junction in traffic. Bar being around pedestrians unsafe would mean the car is at it's limits and can no longer do what you ask it to do. That's not going to happen until you're closer to or well past 100kph.

Lux23 · 07-08-2013 6:49pm

I find it worrying that the OP freely admits that they weren't aware of what speed they were driving at. Surely, while in charge of a vehicle you should be aware of how fast it's going. This is why Garda checkpoints are vital, if people aren't able to keep an eye on his fast they are driving in what can be a deadly piece of equipment.

debabyjesus · 07-08-2013 6:49pm

I pass that spot everyday. I come from coachmans direction and go around the corner at the limit until I see no gaurds there. Your friend is right they are always there and its a pure fish in a barrel job.

ScumLord · 07-08-2013 6:50pm

VinLieger wrote: »

Actually the gardai have no such orders to concentrate on blackspots which is why you will see them doing speed traps in places similar to this.

They also can't really set up at blackspots on small country roads, there isn't the room for them without going onto private property.

Aineoil · 07-08-2013 6:50pm

Iwannahurl wrote: »

Can you elaborate a bit on your logic there? Was your speed over the limit, and how do you know it was a "safe speed"?

In fairness, some of the speed limits don't seem to make sense. I live in rural Ireland on a national primary route. It's 100 kms an hour speed limit on the road. There are 12 houses about a km, where we live.

Pulling out of our driveway is so difficult. Somedays you take your life in your own hands. The speed limit should at least be 80 kms imho. We have two mirrors, but they don't help all that much because of the speed of the traffic.

Roger_007 · 07-08-2013 6:50pm

Iwannahurl wrote: »

Can you elaborate a bit on your logic there? Was your speed over the limit, and how do you know it was a "safe speed"?

I drive at a speed that is safe given the road type and driving conditions. I don't keep looking at the speedo all the time because that would be unsafe. You can't look at the road and something else at the same time. Anyone who drives and cannot judge what is a safe speed should not be driving at all. Since you brought up the question of logic I would question the logic of many of the speed limits that I come across on the roads. I live in the country on a road which is effectively a single-track lane, yet the speed limit is 80k. It links on to a fine stretch of wide, straight newly upgraded road and the speed limit stays the same.

Capt'n Midnight · 07-08-2013 6:53pm

Wait until they use the existing M50 cameras as average speed cameras

Or hook up the toll cameras to motortax.ie / insurance

Iwannahurl · 07-08-2013 6:58pm

SamHall wrote: »

I reckon the TROIKA have demanded our lads get on the roads as revenue raisers.

Will they get a clap on the back from the Troika for raising €25,680 on National Slow Down Day this year?*

At that rate "our lads" will have the national debt paid off in 20,483 years. Way to go guys!

*Assuming that a speeding fine is €80. And stays at that level for 20,483 years, now that I think of it...

Aineoil · 07-08-2013 6:59pm

Iwannahurl wrote: »

*Assuming that a speeding fine is €80.

Yes a speeding fine is 80 euro

Roger_007 · 07-08-2013 7:01pm

Lux23 wrote: »

I find it worrying that the OP freely admits that they weren't aware of what speed they were driving at. Surely, while in charge of a vehicle you should be aware of how fast it's going. This is why Garda checkpoints are vital, if people aren't able to keep an eye on his fast they are driving in what can be a deadly piece of equipment.

I challenge the notion that when driving you always know exactly what your speed is. You can drive perfectly safely without constantly looking at your speedo. In fact anyone who is constantly looking at their speedo is a danger on the road. It means they are not watching the road.

Iwannahurl · 07-08-2013 7:02pm

ScumLord wrote: »

It's pretty difficult to do an unsafe speed at that junction in traffic. Bar being around pedestrians unsafe would mean the car is at it's limits and can no longer do what you ask it to do. That's not going to happen until you're closer to or well past 100kph.

So it's uniformly "safe" up to 100 km/h and then it's suddenly not safe?

Aineoil · 07-08-2013 7:04pm

Roger_007 wrote: »

I challenge the notion that when driving you always know exactly what your speed is. You can drive perfectly safely without constantly looking at your speedo. In fact anyone who is constantly looking at their speedo is a danger on the road. It means they are not watching the road.

I second this, but as a woman driver what's this speedo thing, you are talking about?:D

Iwannahurl · 07-08-2013 7:05pm

Roger_007 wrote: »

Anyone who drives and cannot judge what is a safe speed should not be driving at all.

So you don't know what speed you were driving at, but you do know that the unknown speed was safe?

Nemeses · 07-08-2013 7:06pm

Aineoil wrote: »

I second this, but as a woman driver what's this speedo thing, you are talking about?:D

May I take your license away from you now :P

ScumLord · 07-08-2013 7:06pm

Iwannahurl wrote: »

So it's uniformly "safe" up to 100 km/h and then it's suddenly not safe?

No, I don't know how you could jump to that conclusion.

Roger_007 · 07-08-2013 7:07pm

Aineoil wrote: »

I second this, but as a woman driver what's this speedo thing, you are talking about?:D

Sorry, I was referring to the speedometer, not the little sexy swimming togs that we men sometimes wear, (though not usually in the car). Regrets for the confusion.:D

_Kaiser_ · 07-08-2013 7:09pm

Aineoil wrote: »

In fairness, some of the speed limits don't seem to make sense. I live in rural Ireland on a national primary route. It's 100 kms an hour speed limit on the road. There are 12 houses about a km, where we live.

Pulling out of our driveway is so difficult. Somedays you take your life in your own hands. The speed limit should at least be 80 kms imho. We have two mirrors, but they don't help all that much because of the speed of the traffic.

Or... maybe building/buying/renting a house right next to/on a national primary route wasn't such a great idea?

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 07-08-2013 7:09pm

Aineoil wrote: »

I second this, but as a woman driver what's this speedo thing, you are talking about?:D

I thought I was in the motors forum, 'til I read this

Iwannahurl · 07-08-2013 7:12pm

ScumLord wrote: »

No, I don't know how you could jump to that conclusion.

What does the bit in red imply then?

ScumLord wrote: »

It's pretty difficult to do an unsafe speed at that junction in traffic. Bar being around pedestrians unsafe would mean the car is at it's limits and can no longer do what you ask it to do. That's not going to happen until you're closer to or well past 100kph.

Aineoil · 07-08-2013 7:16pm

Nemeses wrote: »

May I take your license away from you now :P

Haha... you may indeed take away my license (I hate driving)......from now on you can be my dedicated driver.

But can you face a challenge?

General driving chat when I am not driving goes like this (to poor husband).....

Slow down
You're going to fast
Do you not see that fella walking on the road a mile in front of you
For f**ks sake, did you not see that car from the side road
Why did you swerve like that?
Why are you speeding up?
Why are you slowing down?
Don't even think of overtaking here.
Omg, there's a bus/lorry/big van coming towards us.

A_Sober_Paddy · 07-08-2013 7:17pm

The guards are there to enforce the law...The speed limit is the law, going over it is against the law, so they are doing their job's...now I do agree that the speed limits are too low in places, but that's to combat the army of terrible drivers we have on the roads, from my experience on the road, at least 25% of people who drive should never be let near a road...

Nemeses · 07-08-2013 7:18pm

Aineoil wrote: »

Haha... you may indeed take away my license (I hate driving)......from now on you can be my dedicated driver.

But can you face a challenge?

General driving chat when I am not driving goes like this (to poor husband).....

Slow down
You're going to fast
Do you not see that fella walking on the road a mile in front of you
For f**ks sake, did you not see that car from the side road
Why did you swerve like that?
Why are you speeding up?
Why are you slowing down?
Don't even think of overtaking here.
Omg, there's a bus/lorry/big van coming towards us.

Ok Hyacinth..... You also forgot Mind the cows dear...

Only if you accept my terms of shoving a sock in your mouth during my erm, Driving experience

Aineoil · 07-08-2013 7:20pm

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Or... maybe building/buying/renting a house right next to/on a national primary route wasn't such a great idea?

We bought a house on a national primary route, but that was many moons ago (well before the Celtic Tiger), when the road was fairly quiet.

Gardai operating 'gotcha' speed traps.

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