Drivers Ignore Road Safety Laws

In a nation-wide survey carried out by Lansdowne Market Research for the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF), motorists have admitted to wide-scale flouting of road safety laws.

More than 900 motorists were surveyed for the study with nearly 70% confessing that they break the speed limit: Almost 7 out of 10 motorists admitted to breaking the speed limits; 6 out of 10 admitted to driving when tired; 3 out of 10 admitted to dangerous overtaking; more than 2 out of 10 admitted to driving without a safety belt while 17% were willing to admit to drink driving.

Commenting on the findings, IIF’s President John O’Neill said: "Although this research was carried out before the recent introduction of the mobile phone ban and random breath testing, the findings illustrates the scale of the challenge involved in transforming the everyday habits of motorists on our roads. The gap between what motorists are prepared to admit to doing themselves and what those surveyed believe other motorists do is quite telling. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between."

Losing your licence, fines and penalty points were cited in the survey as the most effective deterrents to beat bad driving behaviour.

Random breath testing was introduced on 21st July 2006 and the ban on the use of hand-held mobile phones was introduced on 31st August 2006.

“We congratulate the Government for introducing random breath testing and the mobile phone ban and the legislation to provide for outsourcing of speed cameras. Road deaths dropped significantly in August. However, it is vital that we do not allow this to be a temporary dip as was the case immediately after the introduction of penalty points in November 2002.”

But the IIF says there is significant work to be done in relation to promoting road safety and has urged the Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan, to give more resources to the Garda Traffic Corps.

(SB/SP)