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25/04/2002
Police test three fixed speed camera systems
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is to test three high-tech speed and traffic-light camera systems on behalf of the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
The pilot project, which was unveiled in Belfast on Thursday, April 25, could lead to the eventual use of fixed cameras in Northern Ireland for the first time.
Superintendent Ian Hamill, head of PSNI's Road Policing Development Branch, said that speed is a major killer in the province: "Around one in three of the people who die on our roads, do so in collisions in which speed is a factor. That's even more than drink driving, which stands at around one in four.
"Yet, while the motoring public generally believes that drink driving is unacceptable, speeding doesn't seem to figure as highly in their minds. However, speeding remains a priority for police. It is vital therefore that, in the battle against speeders, police are supported by the best and most up-to-date equipment available."
The PSNI and Essex police are currently involved in testing and evaluating camera systems that may be used to help improve road safety, but the Home Office must approve all cameras that are to be used to provide photographic evidence.
The cameras will be tested at three sites in Northern Ireland. Equipment from Monitron International will be sited at Dee Street on Belfast's Sydenham By-pass. The camera will check three types of driver behaviour: red light contravention only; speed only; and red light and speed combined. Cameras from a second company - Peek Traffic - will check speeding vehicles on the A1 at Banbridge near the Rathfriland junction, and for red light running on Dargan Road at its junction with Duncrue Road in Belfast.
Supt. Hamill said that at the moment the equipment was only testing and evaluated for the Home Office and ACPO.
He said that initial conclusions from trials in England are that the number of people killed or seriously injured in collisions in the trial areas has fallen by up to 20% from the targeted use of speed cameras.
The trial could also herald a move towards investing a proportion of the money from fixed penalty notices into improved road safety measures.
Environment Minister Dermot Nesbitt backed the speed camera trail, which he said could make a significant contribution to reducing road casualties resulting from speed and red light running.
(SP)
The pilot project, which was unveiled in Belfast on Thursday, April 25, could lead to the eventual use of fixed cameras in Northern Ireland for the first time.
Superintendent Ian Hamill, head of PSNI's Road Policing Development Branch, said that speed is a major killer in the province: "Around one in three of the people who die on our roads, do so in collisions in which speed is a factor. That's even more than drink driving, which stands at around one in four.
"Yet, while the motoring public generally believes that drink driving is unacceptable, speeding doesn't seem to figure as highly in their minds. However, speeding remains a priority for police. It is vital therefore that, in the battle against speeders, police are supported by the best and most up-to-date equipment available."
The PSNI and Essex police are currently involved in testing and evaluating camera systems that may be used to help improve road safety, but the Home Office must approve all cameras that are to be used to provide photographic evidence.
The cameras will be tested at three sites in Northern Ireland. Equipment from Monitron International will be sited at Dee Street on Belfast's Sydenham By-pass. The camera will check three types of driver behaviour: red light contravention only; speed only; and red light and speed combined. Cameras from a second company - Peek Traffic - will check speeding vehicles on the A1 at Banbridge near the Rathfriland junction, and for red light running on Dargan Road at its junction with Duncrue Road in Belfast.
Supt. Hamill said that at the moment the equipment was only testing and evaluated for the Home Office and ACPO.
He said that initial conclusions from trials in England are that the number of people killed or seriously injured in collisions in the trial areas has fallen by up to 20% from the targeted use of speed cameras.
The trial could also herald a move towards investing a proportion of the money from fixed penalty notices into improved road safety measures.
Environment Minister Dermot Nesbitt backed the speed camera trail, which he said could make a significant contribution to reducing road casualties resulting from speed and red light running.
(SP)
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07 September 2010
PSNI Make Speed Detector Van Investment
The Police in Northern Ireland have invested in 10 new speed camera detector vans. The vehicles equipped with digital technology are set to make more than £1m. Civilians will now run the speed camera detector vans which had been operating at a loss of £0.5m, due to the manpower required by officers to carry out the work.
PSNI Make Speed Detector Van Investment
The Police in Northern Ireland have invested in 10 new speed camera detector vans. The vehicles equipped with digital technology are set to make more than £1m. Civilians will now run the speed camera detector vans which had been operating at a loss of £0.5m, due to the manpower required by officers to carry out the work.
07 August 2006
Cameras launched to crack down on speeders
The PSNI are launching a campaign to crack down on speeding motorists who slow down before they are captured on camera. The Speed Enforcement Camera System (Specs) is to be officially launched today on the main Newry to Belfast Road, and will be the first time the Specs system has been used in Northern Ireland.
Cameras launched to crack down on speeders
The PSNI are launching a campaign to crack down on speeding motorists who slow down before they are captured on camera. The Speed Enforcement Camera System (Specs) is to be officially launched today on the main Newry to Belfast Road, and will be the first time the Specs system has been used in Northern Ireland.
09 July 2018
Man In His 20s Dies In Drumbo Tractor Crash
A man has died following a road traffic crash in Drumbo, Co Down. The victim, aged in his 20s, was a passenger in a green John Deer tractor that is believed to have left the Back Road shortly after 9.15pm on Friday, 06 July. A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of careless driving causing death in relation to the incident.
Man In His 20s Dies In Drumbo Tractor Crash
A man has died following a road traffic crash in Drumbo, Co Down. The victim, aged in his 20s, was a passenger in a green John Deer tractor that is believed to have left the Back Road shortly after 9.15pm on Friday, 06 July. A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of careless driving causing death in relation to the incident.
18 July 2008
'Specs' Camera Catches Just One Driver
Figures released today reveal that just one motorist has been caught speeding by a speed camera on the A2 road. Thirty-two Speed Enforcement Camera System (SPECS) cameras operate on the main A2 road in north Down since being switched on in May. The 'Specs' cameras monitor traffic flowing in both directions of the A2, between Bangor and Hollywood.
'Specs' Camera Catches Just One Driver
Figures released today reveal that just one motorist has been caught speeding by a speed camera on the A2 road. Thirty-two Speed Enforcement Camera System (SPECS) cameras operate on the main A2 road in north Down since being switched on in May. The 'Specs' cameras monitor traffic flowing in both directions of the A2, between Bangor and Hollywood.
29 January 2003
Camera scheme launched to tackle road safety
In a month that has seen the deaths of 18 people on Northern Ireland's roads, the PSNI has announced a new safety camera scheme designed to reduce speed and increase safety. According to the PSNI, speed is the biggest cause of all deaths and serious injuries in Northern Ireland, with over 29% of fatalities due to excess speed.
Camera scheme launched to tackle road safety
In a month that has seen the deaths of 18 people on Northern Ireland's roads, the PSNI has announced a new safety camera scheme designed to reduce speed and increase safety. According to the PSNI, speed is the biggest cause of all deaths and serious injuries in Northern Ireland, with over 29% of fatalities due to excess speed.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
