Ireland

Van driver caught speeding in Port Tunnel three times in 90 minutes

According to new figures 50 vehicles a day are being detected over the 80km/h limit

Speed cameras were introduced in the Dublin Port Tunnel at the start of June.

Fri Jun 30 2017 - 14:14

A “white van” driver was detected speeding in the Dublin Port Tunnel three times within 90 minutes on the same day, it has emerged.

Cameras began operation in the tunnel on June first. The enforcement system is based on average speed cameras which measure the time taken for a vehicle to go through the tunnel.

Eight high-tech cameras were introduced at a cost of more than €50,000 each.

According to new figures 50 vehicles a day are being detected over the 80km/h limit.

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The highest recorded speed was a motorist traveling at 132km/h.

The "white van" driver is facing nine penalty points and a fine of €240 for their offences, according to a report on RTÉ.

Speeding in the tunnel has been a problem since it opened in December 2006. Some lorry drivers have even posted videos of themselves online speeding while using hand-held cameras.

Plans for the cameras to be used by An Garda to prosecute motorists were announced in June 2016. In January the Garda said the cameras, which at that point had already been installed, would be in use “within weeks”.

Speed cameras installed at Dublin Port Tunnel installed at a cost of more then €550,000 are to go live on Thursday, a year after they were promised.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland said traffic using the tunnel had risen to record levels, higher than during the economic boom; with some 16,000 cars and 10,000 heavy goods vehicles using the tunnel per day.

The Dublin Tunnel also has more than 100 safety cameras covering traffic moving in both directions between Whitehall and Dublin Port, but these are for safety monitoring and are not used to prosecute speeding motorists.

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