Motorists are being warned that fines for 16 road offences will double from tomorrow ahead of the Halloween bank holiday, with drivers facing hefty fines for speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and other offences.
The Government has confirmed the new charges will apply from October 27, with Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton having made the announcement at the RSA's Annual Conference at Croke Park earlier today. The revised rates, which come into effect from midnight tonight, mean the fine for speeding will double to €160, with charges for non-wearing of seatbelts and mobile phone also doubling to €120.
Meanwhile, three brand new Fixed Charge Notices will be coming into force from 2023. They relate to the misuse of a disabled parking permit, illegally parking in an electric charging bay and breaching a HGV ban and entering a specified public road without a valid permit. Here is a full list of the fines that are set to double and what motorists can expect in 2023:
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From Thursday 27 October, these fines are doubling:
- Speeding (from €80 to €160)
- Use of a mobile phone while driving (€60 to €120)
- Non-wearing of seatbelts (€60 to €120)
- Not ensuring a child is properly restrained (€60 to €120)
For learner and novice drivers, these fines are increasing:
- The fine for a learner permit holder driving a vehicle unaccompanied by a qualified person will increase from €80 to €160.
- The fine for novice and learner drivers not displaying ‘L’ or ‘N’ plates, or tabards in the case of motorcyclists, will double to €120.
It comes as latest figures from the RSA have found that 122 people have been killed on Irish roads in 2022. Speaking at the RSA's annual conference today, Minister Hilde Naughton said: "As of today there have been 122 people killed on the road, an increase of 11 on this day last year, and compared to 2019.
"In response to the increase in road deaths this year, this summer I announced that I was bringing forward the implementation of Action 30 in the Road Safety Strategy to review the penalties for serious road traffic offences and said that I intended to increase the fines for those offences that significantly contribute to road deaths.
"Last week I signed the necessary regulations, which will double the fixed charge penalty for a total of 16 high-risk driving offences including speeding, use of a mobile phone while driving, failure to wear a seatbelt or use an appropriate child restraint, and unaccompanied learner driving. This increase will come into effect after midnight tonight."
The Minister said that these fines have not increased since they were introduced, in some cases almost 20 years ago. She said that Increasing fines for road offences will act as a "stronger deterrent to those who choose to break our lifesaving rules of the road.”
Ms Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson of the Road Safety Authority said: “Speed continues to be a contributory factor to fatal collisions in Ireland. Analysis of Irish Coronial data shows that one quarter of driver fatalities with a record of their actions available were exceeding a safe speed.
"Recent survey research conducted by the RSA found that a third of drivers admitted to exceeding 50km/h speed limits by more than 10km/h ‘at least sometimes’. The same research found that just under a third of drivers reported exceeding 100km/h speed limits by more than 10km/h ‘at least sometimes’."
Ms O'Donnell commended Minister Naughton's decision to double the fines for drivers who break potentially life saving rules of the road. She added: "It is timely as we head into a high-risk Bank Holiday and should help put us on the path to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 50% by the end of the decade.”
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