Mayo drivers barely over limit unfairly penalised

MAYO drivers are being caught for speeding, fined and hit with penalty points — for going barely
above the legal speed limits.

Now, Independent TD Noel Grealish has called for a system of staggered penalties for those who
drive too fast, and plans to raise the issue in the Dáil next month.

He says it’s unfair that drivers just over the limit should suffer the exact same penalties as those travelling twice as fast.

And he has accused the government of using the GoSafe speed detecting vans to make money rather
than contribute to safety.

Deputy Grealish said he had been struck by the number of  drivers who had complained to him
about being caught for speeding recently on certain stretches of road when they were only just over the limit.

The complaints particularly centred around GoSafe vans with speed detecting cameras located on
stretches of road that were wide and straight and often on the outskirts of urban areas and villages.

“It’s like shooting fish in a barrel — one taxi driver I spoke to this week was doing seven
kilometres an hour over the 50km limit, and two or three days later he was caught again at a similar speed.

“He’s been landed with six penalty points on his licence — for travelling at only seven
kilometres an hour above the limit. It’s ridiculous.”