It has been known for decades that the curtailment of speed on the roads was an essential prerequisite for reducing the death toll on the roads. It was further appreciated for decades that without the introduction of speed cameras this could not be done effectively. Now decades later, it is still apparent that speed cameras are not available and will not be available for quite some time.

 

Dermot Ahern has said that following a two stage tender and evaluation process, a preferred bidder for the provision of speed cameras has been selected. Following, what he said was “a cooling off period in accordance with standard procurement procedures”, the intention is that An Garda Síochána will shortly commence contract discussions with the preferred bidder. A rollout (his word) of the network of cameras would commence following conclusion of a contract. Rollout would involve a service start-up phase, which would include drawing up policy and procedures by the service provider and their approval by An Garda Síochána; service testing, following which the Garda Commissioner would issue a service commencement certificate; and rollout of the service until operating at full capacity.

Then he said: “Every effort is being made to proceed with the project as speedily as possible. However, I am not in a position to indicate a specific timescale for the project until the contract discussions are concluded.”

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