Editorial: Drivers should slow down, but Kilkenny's N25 speed camera figures are excessive

Over 200 offences arising from one speed camera on Kilkenny’s N25 were heard before a special sitting of Kilkenny District Court last week. There were also a large number of adjournments which are scheduled for another court hearing on October 13.

The camera generated over €6 million in fines between the start of its operation in May of last year and this June, with around 3,600 motorists caught speeding in that month alone. That is unheard of.

But perhaps that is precisely the point. Nobody should object to measures designed to make one of the region’s busiest roads safer. Speed limits exist for a reason, and a camera can be an effective reminder that those limits are not just suggestions. If its presence encourages drivers to ease off the accelerator, then it is doing exactly what it is intended to do.

However, the sheer number of motorists being caught also deserves some consideration. Are all these drivers simply choosing to ignore the limit, or could there be an issue with what is being communicated to people approaching the camera?

Clear, prominent and well-positioned signage should leave nobody in doubt about the applicable speed limit or the fact that enforcement is taking place. If the ultimate objective is safer roads rather than simply catching speeding motorists, then enforcement and clear information should go hand in hand.

EAMONN LANGTON

​​Kilkenny came to a standstill on Friday as the funeral of pioneering Kilkenny businessman Eamonn Langton took place.

The outpouring of condolences from across the county and further afield shows the high regard in which he was held, and how many people he helped over the years.

There is no doubt about it – Eamonn Langton was unique. The role he played in Kilkenny life over the decades will be long remembered.