Louth drivers among Ireland’s most law-abiding, new report finds

Drivers in County Louth have been ranked among the most compliant in the country, with just 3.24% of motorists recording an offence, placing the county second only to Carlow in its adherence to road safety regulations, according to a new its4women report.

The report has revealed a compliance gap across the 26 counties. By analysing motoring offence data from over 60,000 policies, the new report reveals exactly where Irish drivers are most likely to follow the letter of the law, and where they are falling short.

The report’s motoring offence data highlights a significant divide in regional driving:

• Only 3.02% of policyholders in Carlow recorded a motoring offence in the county, making them the most compliant drivers in Ireland. They are followed closely by Louth (3.24%) and Monaghan (3.53%)
• Tipperary drivers recorded the highest percentage of motoring offences at 6.66%. This rate is more than double that of Carlow, suggesting a regional trend of higher risk-taking or lower adherence to road regulations
• Other counties facing higher-than-average offence rates include Donegal (4.05%) and Westmeath (6.07%), both of which sit well above the top-performing counties in the East and Midlands

The data suggests that telematics technology is playing a pivotal role in fostering safer driving habits, with drivers using these devices maintaining a better claim frequency in 11 of the 26 counties. This shift aligns with shifting consumer priorities; while general queries for ‘car insurance Ireland’ rose by 20%, searches for ‘how to lower car insurance’ have skyrocketed by 250%. 

This surge suggests that Irish motorists are increasingly seeking ways to reduce costs, a goal supported by the its4women findings in Limerick, where the claim frequency dropped significantly from 4% for non-telematics drivers to just below 1% for those utilising safety-tracking technology.

Gary McClarty, CEO of its4women, says: 

“Telematics (black boxes) are no longer just a tool for monitoring; it's a powerful incentive for behavioural change on Irish roads. Our data highlights a staggering 'safety surge,' particularly in counties like Limerick, where the use of a telematics box helped slash claim frequencies to a record low of less than 1%. 

“This technology bridges the gap between perceived safety and actual road performance by providing real-time feedback that eliminates 'speed creeping' and rewards smooth, consistent driving.” 

County Clare has emerged as the safest location in Ireland for drivers on standard insurance policies (non-black box), with a low claim frequency of just 3%, versus the national average of 5%. Following closely behind are Dublin at 3.7% and Waterford at 3.9%, rounding out the top three safest driving counties. In contrast, the data identifies Longford as having the highest claim frequency in this category at 7%. Other counties facing higher claim rates include Donegal (6.64%) and Westmeath (6.29%).

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Cavan recorded the highest rate of dangerous speeding events at 26% and the lowest overall average driving score of 70.36/100. 

McClarty continues: “At its4women, we are committed to empowering drivers with their car insurance. By transforming the driving experience from a passive daily task into an active commitment to safety, we hope to protect road users, minimise claims and keep excess speeds to a minimum."

The full report can be read at: www.its4women.ie/irelands-safest-drivers