Speed enforcement system in place at Dublin Port Tunnel

MOTORISTS will need to think twice about breaking the speed limit when using the Dublin Tunnel, with new enforcement measures now in place.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with An Garda Síochána and tunnel operator Egis, went live with Ireland’s first average speed camera enforcement system on June 1.

Traffic levels through the Dublin Tunnel have increased by 40 per cent over the last five years. As a result, statistically there is an increase in the potential for collisions and incidents.  

Typically, there is a 50 per cent reduction in the collision rate once average speed camera enforcement systems are in place.

The system monitors a driver’s average speed while driving through the Dublin Tunnel. 

If a driver is above the 80 km/h speed limit, the motorist will be in violation and penalties will apply.

Once the system determines that a vehicle has exceeded the speed limit, it will automatically create a record of the violation which will then be transmitted to gardaí for action.

This will mirror the existing procedures developed for the processing of speeding offences that incur a fixed charge and applicable penalty points. The fixed charge penalty for speeding currently is an €80 fine and three penalty points on your licence, increasing to five penalty points and a larger fine if convicted in court.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, welcomed the new measures.

“Any initiative that has the potential to save lives and reduce serious injuries on our roads is to be welcomed,” Minister Ross said.

Michael Finn, Assistant Garda Commissioner, Roads Policing, said: “We welcome this enhancement to the operations and safety of the Dublin Tunnel. The amount of traffic travelling through the tunnel is increasing and this new average speed enforcement system provides additional support toward maintaining a safe travel experience for all users.”

Michael Nolan, CEO of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, added: “An average speed camera enforcement system will assist in maintaining the Dublin Tunnel’s strong safety record. TII is grateful to An Garda Síochána for supporting us with this operational improvement.”

All drivers using the Dublin Tunnel will now notice large yellow poles, which support the average speed camera enforcement system. The system will not have flashing lights or other operational indications, but it will be monitoring at all times.

Dublin Tunnel opened on December 20, 2006. It is a twin bore tunnel, 4.5km in length, and forms a section of the M50 C-Ring road around Dublin.