GoSafe vans are a life-saver insists head of Limerick garda division

THE head of the Limerick garda division has defended the use of GoSafe vans and insists they are worth “their weight in gold” if they save even one life.

Chief Superintendent David Sheahan made his comments in response to a motion calling for a review of some of the locations in County Limerick where  GoSafe vans are used.

The motion from Mayor Liam Galvin came before a meeting of the Joint Policing Committee – the first to be held in over a year.

Cllr Richard O’Donoghue said he supports the use of GoSafe vans and he told the meeting the inclusion of Rourke’s Cross has been “absolutely brilliant” from a road safety point of view.

However, he said some of the other locations where vans are deployed “are not correct”.

One example, he said, is Banogue where there is a view locally that the van should be parked in the village near the crossroads and not on outskirts.

“It’s located outside the 100km zone just as you are accelerating leaving the village, they only have a view of about 30 yards —  that’s where they are catching people. That wasn’t a great idea, they were catching  them after they came through the village,” he said.

Cllr Eddie Ryan said similar concerns have been raised in Galbally.

“People would like that this van would be located in the village of Galbally where there is a square – speeding through the village is a real issue, not 200 yards out of the village,”  he said.

Chief Supt Sheahan said the locations where GoSafe vans are used is based on a comprehensive analysis of serious road collisions.

“It was dealt with over a five year period where all serious and fatal accidents were GPSd.

We know exactly where they happened and — based on that — we identified key zones where accidents happened,” he said, adding the locations of the zones can be found on the garda website.

Chief Supt Sheahan also told the meeting that a risk assessment has been conducted at each location where vans are used.

“Road safety for me is of paramount importance and GoSafe vans are only one strategy that we use but as long as it saves lives for me they are worth the investment,” he said.