GoSafe speed detection vans in Longford generate €265,000 in fines

More than €265,000 in fines were generated by GoSafe speed detection vans in Longford since 2019, it has emerged.

According to a Freedom of Information request by this paper to An Garda Síochána, a total of €265,800 was collected in revenue in the Garda divisions of Longford and Granard.

The figures relate to the period from the start of 2019 until September 19, 2024 in the county.

However, a breakdown of fines generated by GoSafe vans by location is not available.

A total of 2,939 fixed charge notices (FCNs) were issued during the period of five years and eight months.

In 2019, €53,200 worth of fines were generated when 760 FCNs were issued to drivers.

This figure dropped to €33,640 in 2020 from 470 FCNs, which is likely due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The amount collected increased slightly to €36,880 in 2021 when 519 FCNs were issued to motorists, while in 2022, €24,960 was generated in fines from 303 FCNs.

In 2023, the amount generated increased to €48,320 when 335 FCNs were issued, while so far in 2024 the highest amount in recent years of €68,800 has been generated from 552 FCNs.

An Garda Síochána said it was not possible to break down these figures by van locations in the county.

So far this year 19 fatalities have occurred on roads in the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford division.

There were 188 deaths in 2023, which was the worst year for road deaths in nearly a decade.

The Garda Press Office has said that speeding continues to be the biggest contributory factor in road deaths in Ireland.

A spokesman said An Garda Síochána continues to be concerned as to the ongoing trend in road fatalities nationwide.

 "An Garda Síochána remains committed to our part in Ireland’s Government Road Safety Strategy 2021–to-2030 ‘a strategic, coordinated and multi-sectoral approach to road safety across government and key stakeholders will be critical to achieving a safer, better Ireland for all’," he said. "Speed, intoxicated driving, seatbelts and distracted driving remain the key lifesaver offences and An Garda Síochána continue to target and prosecute the most risky drivers who continue to break these basic road safety measures, endangering themselves, their passengers and other road users."

The amount generated from FCNs in Longford was significantly less than in counties Roscommon and Mayo between 2019 and 2022 where comparable data was accessed by this newspaper.

During the four-year period €148,680 was generated in speeding fines in county Longford, while in Roscommon the amount generated was €482,320 and in Mayo some €539,870 was generated. If a motorist is detected driving over the speed limit, they get three penalty points and a fine of €160, which was doubled by the Department of Transport in October 2022, having been €80 up to that point.