Gardaí Struggling to Manage Surge in Road Traffic Offences Detected by ANPR Cameras
An advanced automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system implemented in Garda cars has revealed a concerning trend – the sheer volume of road traffic offences being flagged is overwhelming law enforcement officers. The increased use of ANPR cameras has led to a situation where gardaí are unable to respond to every single offence detected, forcing them to prioritize drivers flagged for multiple violations.
The cameras are capable of identifying various offences such as driving without tax or insurance, vehicles linked to disqualified drivers, and speeding, among others. Despite efforts to target the most serious offenders, the sheer scale of the offences has left many violations unaddressed. Road safety campaigners are expressing disappointment over the inability of the Garda force to keep up with the rising number of offences, especially as road deaths have been on the rise.
Susan Gray, founder of the PARC road safety group, emphasized the need for more resources to be allocated to roads policing. With a decrease in the number of roads policing unit members in recent years, coupled with outdated vehicles that are incompatible with the new camera system, law enforcement officers are facing significant challenges in addressing road traffic offences effectively.
While the implementation of new technology was expected to enhance enforcement efforts, gardaí find themselves unable to respond to all flagged drivers, focusing primarily on those deemed the most serious offenders. The Department of Justice highlighted the impact of new technology in detecting more offences, with a significant number of vehicles being seized for lack of insurance since the beginning of the year.
The situation has raised concerns among road safety advocates and calls for additional resources to be allocated to roads policing units. The Garda force continues to grapple with the evolving landscape of road traffic offences, highlighting the need for ongoing support and investment in technology and personnel to effectively address the issue.