Types and locations of safety cameras

Average Speed Enforcement Camera Systems (SPECS)

SPECS are highly visible and are mounted on over-hanging poles in pairs. The system measures the average speed which a vehicle travels between two cameras. A SPECS operates on the A2 between Bangor and Holywood.

• A2 Belfast to Bangor Road (Culloden)
• A2 Belfast to Bangor Road (Dicksons)

Fixed safety cameras

Fixed safety cameras measure the speed of a vehicle at a given point. The cameras, which are marked yellow, are mounted at the roadside on grey-coloured poles.

Fixed red light running cameras

Fixed red light running cameras look similar to fixed safety cameras.  They are located at junctions with traffic lights which have a lot of collisions

Mobile safety camera vehicles

The mobile safety camera vehicles use the latest digital photographic and laser technology to accurately measure and record vehicle speeds. The vehicles, which are clearly marked and highly visible, are used on the following  routes throughout Northern Ireland. 

Antrim and Newtownabbey

Ards and North Down

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

Belfast City

Causeway Coast and Glens

Derry City and Strabane

Fermanagh and Omagh

Lisburn and Castlereagh City

Mid and East Antrim

Mid Ulster

Newry, Mourne and Down

Where cameras are installed

Safety Cameras are installed in sites/routes which evidence suggests that there is an injury collision and speeding problem.

Methods are as follows:

• road traffic collisions with injuries over the past three years are mapped on a computer using a geographic information system
• clusters of collisions either at specific sites or along routes are identified using specific criteria established by the Partnership Board in line with national standards
• the Partnership conduct assessments to find the most suitable solution such as signage, engineering works or speed enforcement
• speed surveys are undertaken at sites to find out if a speeding problem exists
• statistics from camera sites are monitored to make sure camera enforcement is working

Dormant sites

As of 1 June 2019, the following sites have been made dormant meaning no further enforcement will take place at these sites for 12 months. They will be assessed again after 12 months and depending on the results of the assessment at that time, either the camera signage will be removed or they will be reinstated on the list of enforceable sites.

• A20, Greyabbey to Loughdoo Rd

Removed sites

The following sites have been removed from list of enforcement sites as engineering changes at these roads have made enforcement impossible or the sites no longer meet the required criteria for enforcement:

Belfast

• Old Holywood Road, Belfast - speed limit 30mph

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon

• Scarva Road, Banbridge - speed limit 30mph

Ards and North Down

• Portaferry Road, Newtownards - speed limit 40mph

Causeway Coast and Glens

• Ballycastle Road, Coleraine - speed limit 30mph
• Foreglen Road, Dungiven - speed limit 60mph
• Dunhill Road, Limavady - speed limit 60mph
• Ballyreagh Road, Portrush - speed limit 30mph
• Ballybogy Road, Ballymoney - speed limit 40mph, 60mph
• Moyarget Road, Ballycastle - speed limit 60mph
• Cromore Road, Coleraine – speed limit 40mph
• Ballyquin Road, Limavady – speed limit 30mph, 60mph

Derry City and Strabane

• Springtown Road, L'derry - speed limit 30mph
• Racecourse Road, L'derry - speed limit 30mph

Fermanagh and Omagh

• A509 Enniskillen to Derrylin Road - speed limit 30mph, 60mph
• Moorlough Road, Lisnakea - speed limit 60mph

Mid Ulster

• A4 Ballygawley to Dungannon - speed limit 60mph
• Tobermore Road Maghera - speed limit - 30mph
• Drum Road, Cookstown - speed limit 30mph, 60mph

Newry, Mourne and Down

• SPECs site on the A1 Newry - speed limit 60mph
• Downpatrick Road, Ardglass - speed limit 30mph
• Tandragee Road, Bessbrook - speed limit 40mph, 60mph
• Warrenpoint Road, Newry - speed limit 30mph

Community concern sites

Community concern sites are enforced where there is a well-founded concern, raised through the local Policing and Community Safety Partnership or the PSNI Area Commander, that a failure to reduce speeds will result in collisions causing death or serious injury.

Once approved for enforcement, camera operators use temporary signs at these locations.

Belfast City

 Antrim and Newtownabbey

Ards and North Down

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon

Causeway Coast and Glens

Derry City and Strabane

Fermanagh and Omagh

Mid Ulster

Newry, Mourne and Down

Reliability of speed detection equipment

All speed detection equipment operated by the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership is approved by the Department for Infrastructure (DFI) before it can be used for enforcement.

The equipment goes through rigorous testing to the standards set by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch ,and there are a range of strict procedures for operating the equipment that further assures accuracy. Cameras are only used on specific roads which must meet strict criteria.

Camera calibration certificates

Fixed speed camera calibration certificates

• Fixed speed camera calibration certificates (including Antrim Road, Saintfield Road, Springfield Road, Upper Newtownards Rd, SPECs A2 Belfast to Bangor)

Red-light-running camera calibration certificates

• Red light running camera certificates (including Castle Street, Millfield, Divis Street, Mill Street, Millfield - Peter's Hill, York Street, Georges Street, Middlepath Street - M3 Onslip, Nelson Street - York Street)

Mobile speed cameras calibration certificates

• Mobile camera 31002
• Mobile camera 31014
• Mobile camera 31015
• Mobile camera 31023
• Mobile camera 31025
• Mobile camera 31026
• Mobile camera 31041 
• Mobile camera LW06305
• Mobile camera LW06306
• Mobile camera LW06307
• Mobile camera LW06308
• Mobile camera LW06309
• Mobile camera LW06310
• Mobile camera LW06311

Human Rights Act

In keeping with the Human Rights Act 1998, the registered keeper of a vehicle can be required to give the details of who was driving at the time the vehicle was speeding. This is not a breach of the individual’s rights to a fair trial.

More useful links

• Speed limits - how they are set
• Speed limits and penalties for breaking them
• The Highway Code