Twin strategy to tackle menace of 'boy-racers' on busy Mayo roads

Speed cameras and vehicle impoundment cited as most effective options in stopping disturbances

A Mayo Oireachtas member is seeking the erection of speed cameras at locations in the county where 'boy-racers' are continuing to prove a menace along busy roadways.

Deputy Keira Keogh has also stated that vehicle impoundment have proved very effective in other jurisdictions in dealing with the problem.

Welcoming the roll-out of the National Safety Camera Strategy, Deputy Keogh said it is a significant and overdue step in modernising road safety enforcement and reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

The Westport-based representative elaborated: "Mayo, along with Donegal, had the highest road deaths per capita on 2025 data, so this is important for me and for my constituents.

"The strategy provides a clear national framework, backed by evidence, for using cameras to tackle speeding, red-light running and dangerous driving behaviours.

"But I also want to ensure it covers rural Ireland, especially blackspots where there are no traffic lights or bus lanes but where there are clearly wide roads where car enthusiasts are engaging in speeding or stunts like doughnuts and things like that.

"The programme for government contains a clear commitment to introduce new road safety cameras to automatically detect mobile phone use while driving and drivers not wearing seat belts.

"These behaviours are among the most dangerous on Irish roads and they contribute daily to collisions, injuries and fatalities.

"The strategy is strong on speeding and red-light enforcement but it is less committal on expanding cameras to detect phone use and seat-belt offences.

"We really need clear roadmaps and clear timelines for when these camera enforcements will be extended to those high-risk behaviours.

"I have also raised before serious local issues in Mayo, specifically around Derrinumera site (on the main Castlebar to Newport road) but also in other sites where large gatherings of car enthusiasts coming from Sligo, Galway and also Mayo are causing disturbances in the same areas over and over again.

"They are causing safety concerns but are also keeping babies awake at night and residents are having trouble getting to sleep.

"I have engaged locally with An Garda Síochána and I welcome that engagement. I also engaged with the local authority to discuss the best approach to tackling this issue.

"Residents are enduring noise disturbance. There is dangerous driving and antisocial behaviour as well as polluting and this deserves action.

"I commissioned the Oireachtas Library and Research Service to examine international approaches around the world to managing car enthusiast gatherings and different evidence came back from that.

"One thing that was interesting was that there was no strong evidence that providing a safe place for car meets actually reduces antisocial behaviour, something we float regularly.

"What it did show, and what most evidence backed, was that vehicle impoundment was the most effective deterrent for dangerous driving and antisocial gatherings.

"It also highlighted emerging technologies that are being used in the UK that could support enforcement.

"These are noise detection cameras, which can detect behaviour visually but can also pick up on noise detections such as illegal exhaust modifications or excessive engine revving.

"These systems could be highly relevant in areas like Derrinumera where noise and modified vehicles are a major part of the problem and I hope Ireland can actively explore the feasibility of a pilot system here similar to the UK.

"The National Safety Camera Strategy is a strong foundation but we must ensure it evolves to meet the full range of dangerous driving behaviours on our roads.

"When I look at that area of Derrinumera, these car enthusiasts are very clever.

"They have spotter cars on either side of the road about 1 km away from where the stunts are happening, so as soon as the gardaí are on their way they notify the main group of people so they can disperse by the time the gardaí get there or they can be lined up neatly in a row, which is not illegal.

"Cameras in these rural blackspots would really help An Garda Síochána to pick up on that dangerous driving and be able to act on it.

"I also think we have to get that portal up and running where people can upload their own dash cameras to report dangerous driving."