Fines associated with 16 road safety offences doubled from midnight. Drivers not wearing a seatbelt will result in a fine of €120 while speeding will cost motorists €160.
Learner drivers could face paying the same amount for not having a qualified person accompany them in their vehicle. Keith Sinnott, National Clinic Lead for Trauma Services, says there's scientific evidence that speeding results in serious accidents.
"The faster you go, the more injuries a patient will have. If you go twice as fast you are four times more likely to have a serious or severe injury. So, the impact of speeding is disproportionate.
"It's a bit like the exponential growth curve of Covid-19 that we all became familiar with over the past few years," he added. Meanwhile, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton, says drivers are still reluctant to follow the rules.
She highlighted how the doubling of fines for driving offences "isn't about making money" but about changing driver behaviour.
