Speeding fines on N80 discussed at public meeting and by council
The Leagh Bends on the N80, where a number of lives have been lost in recent years Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
THE number of people fined after being caught driving over the 80kph speed limit on the N80 prompted a public meeting in Carlow as well as a discussion among elected members at Carlow Co Council’s most recent meeting.
A static speed camera installed in May 2025 has led to 15,880 fixed-penalty charge notices being issued over the past year, the second-highest number of fines issued per camera in the country.
One man who received a fine and attended the public meeting in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel with local TD Catherine Callaghan (FG) and Wexford Labour deputy George Lawlor on Monday 13 July said the static camera “isn’t a safety project – it’s a cash-extraction exercise that’s hitting local workers hard”. The man, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he travelled the road once a year and was following his car GPS data showing a 100kph speed limit along a straight part of the road, which meant his speed crept up.
However, the main issue, he said, was that nurses, truck drivers and other people who depend on driving for their careers are on six or nine penalty points and “are genuinely afraid to drive for work”. He wanted clearer signage on the road, the penalty points of those who made “honest mistakes” redressed and the money collected by the state from the fines to be reinvested directly into the Leagh Bends scheme on the N80.
These points were echoed by local councillors at the July county council meeting earlier the same day.
Cllr John Pender asked senior engineer Orla Barrett to check if the speed camera had been properly calibrated, whether the council could install better signage leading up to it and if there was a review into the reduction of the speed limit. Cathaoirleach cllr Tommy Kinsella said he had representations from people who were fined for speeding, who “were not the real culprits” but were getting severely penalised.
Cllr Jim Deane asked the council executive to consider installing a permanent solar sign notifying people of the camera and a floodlight over the static camera. Others asked if it was possible to increase the speed limit to 100kph on straighter parts of the road.
“We actually got more signage than is statutorily required,” replied Ms Barrett, adding that the gardaí had calibrated the camera “very thoroughly”.
“We’re confident that the calibration is right,” agreed director of services Padraig O’Gorman, noting that he would check again with gardaí. He understood that speed vans might be slightly more lenient than static cameras and said the blanket speed limit of 80kph along the N80 in Co Carlow was to ensure “no ambiguity” for drivers.
He announced that the council would be “moving towards the average speed camera” over a three-kilometre stretch along the N80 as a “probably more effective measure” and noted the static camera does have less margin for error than a speed van would.
When this news reached the ears of the man who was caught speeding, he dismissed it as evidence of the council “doubling down” and acknowledging that the current set-up is unfair.
As for the traffic, Brexit is to blame, said Mr O’Gorman, noting that Rosslare Port had become more important and commercial traffic used the N80 to travel from it to the midlands. He also said the population in the region had increased.
Cllr Brian O’Donoghue said people were just going to have to “put up” with delays for the sake of making the road safer.
“We should always be very mindful of the families and those coping after serious injuries from the N80. The bottom line is if it saves a life or lives, we must do our best to try and enhance the area and make the road safer,” cllr Deane concluded.
