ALERT: Drivers facing €80 fines with thousands caught out by new rules of road

Thousands of drivers are expected to be caught out by new rules of the road which could result in them receiving fines and penalty points.

The Government is introducing measures such as lower speed limits and new average speed cameras. Drivers also face fines for breaking red lights if they are snapped on camera.

Average Speed Cameras

Since the introduction of average speed cameras in Dublin Port Tunnel in 2017, followed by the M7 in 2022, additional cameras have been installed on the N3 in Cavan and N5 in Mayo. This month, new cameras went live on the N2. As the Gardaí aim to reduce speeding and collisions, there are plans for even more cameras nationwide this year.

What does this mean for car insurance?

Car insurers consider penalty points when calculating premiums. Speeding violations can lead to higher premiums, so it’s crucial to follow speed limits for both your safety and that of others, and also your insurance costs.

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Provision of Driver Number to Insurers

Starting 31st March 2025, all motorists must provide their Driver Number when purchasing or renewing insurance. This new regulation aims to tackle uninsured drivers and will enhance the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID), which is checked by Gardaí. In 2023, uninsured vehicle claims increased by 11%, driving up insurance premiums. This measure is intended to improve safety and reduce costs for all drivers.

Fines for Running Red Lights

New traffic cameras will soon catch motorists running red lights, starting in Dublin before expanding nationwide. This initiative is intended to improve driver behavior and reduce traffic collisions.

What does this mean for my car insurance?

If a camera photographs your vehicle running a red light, this can result in an automatic €80 fine. Running a red light also incurs three penalty points, which could impact your car insurance premium.

Increases in Motorway Tolls

Several motorways and the Dublin Port Tunnel have increased tolls:

M50 toll has risen by 10 cent for vehicles without a tag.

M50 toll is up by 10 cent for tagged HGVs, and 20 cent for unregistered HGVs over 10,000kg.

Dublin Port Tunnel peak-time toll increased from €12 to €13.

A 10 cent increase for buses and HGVs on various motorways, with no changes for cars except the M4.

Reduced Speed Limits

As part of the road safety initiative, speed limits will be lowered on certain roads.

Rural roads will decrease from 80km/h to 60km/h (effective February 7, 2025).

National secondary roads will reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h.

Urban roads will be lowered from 50km/h to 30km/h.

New Re-Education Courses for Driving Offences

Motorists caught speeding may be able to attend re-education courses instead of receiving penalty points. The Department of Transport is reviewing speeding penalties and The Road Safety Authority are exploring speed awareness courses to reduce reoffending.

With these changes coming into effect this year, it's essential for drivers to stay informed to remain compliant and avoid penalty points that could impact their car insurance premiums.

More information can be found in the article from Chill here.