The Cabinet has approved a new Road Traffic Bill which provides for tougher penalties for drink driving offences, a ban on hand held mobile phones in cars and random breath testing.
It is expected that the legislation will come into force before the summer.
The bill also provides for a doubling in the disqualification period for those convicted of driving without insurance or those involved in hit and runs.
The Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, has said the legislation will also provide for the privatisation of speed cameras.
The newly appointed Chairman of the Road Safety Authority, Gay Byrne, has earlier welcomed plans for tougher legislation.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr Byrne said people had been calling out for a strengthening of the legislation for some time.
