Ireland needs to consider average speed cameras as a way to tackle the number of road traffic collisions, the Justice Minister has said.

This year has marked one of the worst years on Irish roads in recent memory – with 130 deaths being reported in 2023 alone.

Irish roads are currently primarily policed by GoSafe vans – which operate in areas that have a speed-related collision history where fatal, serious injury and minor injury collisions occur.

Average Speed cameras (PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo)

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said Government has invested in the monitoring service.

"We have GoSafe vans, where we've had additional investment," she said. "We've doubled the number of GoSafe vans that we have across the country."

However, Minister McEntee said Ireland should consider increasing the use of average speed cameras.

"I do think we need to look more at average speed cameras," she said.

"If you look to Scotland as a jurisdiction – similar population and road profile – they have less of a policing unit, they use technology in a different way.

"I think it's something we need to look at."