The Irish Government has said it will "explore" the possibility of introducing a UK-style video portal so road users can submit video footage of dangerous driving and other road traffic offences.
The move, if it happens, would likely prove popular with cyclists, more of whom are using bike-mounted cameras to record close passes by drivers and other offences.
At present cyclists must report an incident to gardai and submit video. However, the report and video submission cannot be made directly to gardai online. Instead, cyclists are usually required to contact and visit the local Garda station.
There have been reports of very mixed responses by gardai to cyclists' video footage, with some keen to take the videos as evidence while others are less so. Anecdotal reports suggest some members of the force are only willing to deal with incidents where a driver has either clipped or hit a cyclist.
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If a video portal was introduced, a motoring offence could be reported and corroborating video submitted in online reports. It would streamline the reporting system and would probably lead to more expertise emerging within the Garda for dealing with incidents such as close passes.
Minister of State in the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton TD, today launched Ireland’s fifth Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030.
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The primary aim of the government’s new road safety strategy is to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads by 50 per cent over the next 10 years.
One of the commitments or actions set out under the plan relates to the possibility a video portal would be created so all road users, not just cyclists, could submit video of motoring offences.
The new measures contain a promise to "explore the potential of an online portal for road users to upload footage of road traffic offences which could assist in prosecution".
Other steps to be taken include a review of speed limits, to include a 30km per hour default speed limit in all urban areas.
There is also a commitment given to "review the penalties for serious road traffic offences including the following: impaired driving, speeding, mobile phone use, non-wearing of seat belts, carrying unrestrained children in a vehicle".
Legislation to increase sanctions for drug and drink driving is also promised as well as a pledge to create 1,000km of segregated walking and cycling facilities in the period to 2025.
