Motoring fines set to double as road safety appeal issued

THE fixed fines for key road safety offences are set to double, as it is confirmed that 94 people have lost their lives on Irish roads since the start of the year.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Ms Hildegrade Naughton is set to introduce regulations that will double the fixed charges relating to key road safety offences, including speeding, phone use and non-wearing of seatbelts.

This will see the fine for speeding increase from €80 to €160 and the fine for using a mobile phone while driving or not wearing a seatbelt double to €120.

Fines will be doubled for other offences that put the safety of vulnerable road users at risk.

The announcement was made at the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Siochána’s mid-summer appeal, which urged road users to share the roads safely and for drivers to slow down as we enter peak summer holiday season.

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Road users have been reminded to expect higher traffic volumes, not just over the August bank holiday but throughout August as tourists and holidaymakers take to the road.

According to figures provided, the highest number of monthly facilities in 10 years was recorded in August 2021, when 22 people died.

This year, 2022, has already seen a 42 per cent increase in fatalities compared to the same period in 2021 – with 94 deaths and 673 seriously injured.

Speaking at the launch of the Road Safety Appeal at ATU Donegal, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Ms Hildegarde Naughton said: “I am gravely concerned about the high number of deaths on our roads this year. We need to act now to stem this increase.

“Accordingly, I intend to double the fines for key road traffic offences which are putting drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists at most risk of death on our roads.

“For example, the fine for speeding will soon increase from €80 to €160 and the fine for using a mobile phone while driving or for not wearing a seatbelt will double to €120.

“I will also be doubling fines for offences which put the safety of our children who are walking, cycling, or scooting to school at risk. Increasing fines for these offences will act as a stronger deterrent to those who break our lifesaving rules of the road.”

She reminded road users that August is typically a very busy time of the year on our roads, and that it is also a busy time for road works and safety upgrades.

Ms Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson, RSA,  said: “We have seen a devastating increase in road trauma this year. 94 people have died and 673 seriously injured.

“All of us have a responsibility to stop this upward trend in road crashes.

“I want to commend the Minister’s decision to double the fines for drivers who break lifesaving rules of the road.

“There are too many people being killed and seriously injured and we must act to prevent more families from going through this trauma.”

Ms O’Donnell added: “At the RSA we will be launching a new campaign to highlight what’s known as the ‘Speed Fallacy’.

“The ‘Speed Fallacy’ is the belief that you save lots of time by speeding on a journey when in fact the time savings are miniscule, a minute or two at most on an average journey.”

This August bank holiday weekend, the RSA will also be providing free cups of coffee to drivers at participating Applegreen stations to help combat driver fatigue.

The offer will be available from 2pm to 8pm on Friday, July 29, to Monday, August 1.