More than 6 in 10 drivers (63%) in Ireland are in favour of the recently increased fines for road traffic offences as a means of encouraging improved driver behaviour and curbing dangerous driving practices.
The nationwide survey of 1,000 adults by iReach Insights on behalf of Aviva, comes on the back of a raft of penalty increases that were introduced late last year (October 2022), which saw fines for 16 different driving offences double in some cases.
Speeding fines increased from €80 to €160, while the penalty for mobile phone use, non-wearing of seatbelts and failing to ensure that a child is properly restrained doubled from €60 to €120. Unaccompanied learner drivers now face a fine of €160, while learner novice drivers who do not display the required ‘L’ or ‘N’ plates will be forced to cough up €120.
The new survey signals widespread support for the financial penalties, with 3 in 10 men and 4 in 10 women saying that the higher financial penalty, the less likely people will be to break the rules. The Aviva survey further revealed that just 28% of drivers believe Ireland’s current penalty point system is fit for purpose, while the next largest proportion of respondents (17%) think the penalties are irrelevant because people who break the rules just don’t care.
The remainder (57%) would like to see changes in difference aspects of the system ranging from those who think both fines and penalty points should increase, and others who believe that enforcement is the issue.
 in Ireland are in favour of the recently increased fines for road traffic offences as a means of encouraging improved driver behaviour and curbing dangerous driving practices.){kind=link}