2,000 caught for speeding in Galway over five-month period

More than 2,000 motorists were ‘done’ for speeding in Galway City in the first five months of the year – an almost 10% increase on the same period last year.

Figures released to the City Joint Policing Committee (JPC) show that some 1,836 fixed charge penalty notices (FCPN) were issued for speeding between January and May 2020, rising to 2,001 this year.

Councillors have raised concerns about the location of ‘Go Safe’ speed detection vans, with Cllr Mike Crowe (FF) hitting out at the practice of parking them on footpaths.

His party colleague, Cllr Alan Cheevers (FF) said there was a particular issue with the location of one speed van that is regularly parked on the Monivea Road.

“In relation to the Monivea Road, I have spoken to the employee in the van and asked why he is parking on the footpath. He said they don’t put any speed vans in the city without the consent of the Gardaí,” said Cllr Cheevers.

Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) raised the issue of the speed van that frequents College Road and which parks in ‘Pay and Display’ spaces. She questioned if this was something these vans were entitled to do.

Responding, Chief Superintendent Tom Curley said any issue of illegal parking by speed van operators should be brought to the attention of Gardaí.

“The only input we have in these is in advising where they park in the vicinity of where accidents have happened,” said Chief Supt Curley, adding that the decision on where to locate the vans lay with the Road Safety Authority.

“If vehicles are parked illegally, ring the local station and we’ll get someone out to have a look at them. They are not exempt from the Road Traffic Act.”

In the road offences statistics, it was also revealed that pedal cycle offences have risen year-on-year, with 22 detected by Gardaí in the first five months of 2021 – a 29% increase.

Parking offences were down, from 470 in the early part of 2020 to 256 in 2021 (46%); motorists detected breaking traffic lights were down by 26% top 49.

The number of Mandatory Intoxicant Tests (MIT) checkpoints fell dramatically, from 172 to 62. This was as a result of issues over the use of breathalysers during lockdown, but Chief Supt Curley confirmed that they were now in use again.

Serious injury on the roads also fell, with just one between January and May, an 86% drop on the 2020 figure.

Meanwhile, public order offences were also down, falling from 207 to 180. Assault causing harm dropped by 62% to 16 while minor assault fell to 108 from 127.