- AI and camera technology could be used to improve detection of cars driving the wrong way on motorways.
- Following a meeting, plans were announced for harsher penalties for 'aggravated' dangerous driving, including deliberately driving the wrong way down a motorway.
- Minister Seán Canney stated that officials would start work next week on stricter laws for those who deliberately put other people’s lives at risk.
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) will share details of pilot schemes on new technologies to limit dangerous driving.
- The existing law that criminalizes dangerous driving will now include wrong-way driving on specific public roads.
- Canney mentioned that while there is existing dangerous driving legislation, the penalty might not be enough.
AI and camera technology are set to play a crucial role in Ireland's efforts to combat wrong-way motorway driving, as the government prepares to introduce stricter penalties by the end of the year.1
Minister of State for Road Safety, Seán Canney, announced that discussions are underway to draft new legislation aimed at addressing this dangerous behavior, which has seen a rise in recent incidents.6
The proposed laws will include a new offense of intentionally driving the wrong way on dual carriageways or motorways, expanding the existing Roads Act.
Canney stated, “It is crucial Ireland makes wrong-way motorway driving an 'intolerable' act in this country.” He emphasized the need for a cultural shift regarding such dangerous driving practices.
The government is considering longer jail sentences for offenders, with Canney expressing a desire for a new social attitude that deems this behavior unacceptable.
The integration of AI technology with the existing road camera network is expected to enhance public safety by providing quicker alerts to authorities and motorists about wrong-way drivers. Canney noted, “There is an opportunity with AI and the camera technology which we have at the moment.”
The government aims to finalize these legislative changes in collaboration with the Department of Justice and the Attorney General’s office, with a timeline set for completion by the end of the year.
As part of this initiative, Canney also highlighted the role of social media platforms in addressing the issue, indicating that officials are monitoring activities on sites like TikTok.
“Minister Canney said the M50 and the road to Cork are well covered with cameras, and AI could help detect incidents quicker and alert gardaí sooner. He also wants longer jail sentences and a social attitude that makes wrong-way driving 'intolerable', with laws to be drafted next week.”
