Fines for the most dangerous driving offences are set to be doubled after four people died in three separate road traffic incidents on Irish roads during a 24-hour period across Monday and Tuesday.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton is set to introduce regulations that will double the fixed charges relating to key road safety offences, including speeding, phone use and non-wearing of seatbelts.
This will see the fine for speeding increase from €80 to €160, while the fine for using a mobile phone while driving or for not wearing a seatbelt will double to €120.
Fines will also be doubled for other offences that put the safety of vulnerable road users at risk.
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The announcement was made at the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána's mid-summer road safety appeal, which urged road users to share the roads safely and for drivers to slow down as the peak summer holiday season gets into full swing.
This year has seen an increase in road fatalities on the same time last year, with 94 deaths and 673 serious injuries to date in 2022 - a 42% increase in fatalities.
Within 24 hours between Sunday and Monday four people died in separate road traffic incidents on Irish roads.
A man and a woman, both aged in their 30s, died following a road traffic collision in Co Limerick, involving a van and a car.
This came after a 19-year-old died when the car he was driving collided with a tree in Co Kerry on Sunday, and just hours later a pedestrian died after being hit by a car on Achill Island in Co Mayo.
Speaking at the launch of the Road Safety Appeal at ATU Donegal, Minister Naughton said the number of incidents on Irish roads had become alarming.
"I am gravely concerned about the high number of deaths on our roads this year," she said.
"We need to act now to stem this increase. We are approaching August, which is typically a very busy time of the year on our roads and as such a high-risk period.
"The summer is an exciting time when so many people take holidays to explore new and familiar places across Ireland, but we must remember to stay safe on the road while doing so.
Minister Naughton said August is also a busy time for road works and safety upgrades. Last year August was the worst month for road deaths in a decade with 22 deaths.
She told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that the regulations on the doubling of fines are being worked on at the moment and will come into effect in the next number of weeks.
She said that to increase penalty points "would need a primary legislation, and that's something that we can work on".
"But what we wanted to do was to act fast to put in place immediate measures, and An Garda Síochána from this morning will have 61 new safety camera zones rolled out across the country and that will be bringing their total number of nationwide speed camera zones to almost four 1,400."
The minister said that based on evidence on "pinch points" across the country in "very dangerous areas where collisions are common, where there have been accidents in the past", there are targeted enforcement measures by gardaí.
She said enforcement is targeted across the country through better campaigning, better messaging, and through penalties and legislation.
Ms Naughton said the message is that it is the responsibility of drivers, particularly to slow down, and abide by the rules of the road.
"It's about asking the public and drivers to have that responsibility themselves," she said.
"You shouldn't need to wait for a speed van to slow down or not to use your mobile phone."
The key message from the RSA and An Garda Síochána today was to 'Summer Safely'. An Garda Síochána announced 61 new safety camera zones bringing the total to 1,373.
Garda Assistant Commissioner in Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Paula Hilman, said there has been an alarming increase in road traffic incidents this year.
"We know many people will be eager to take to the roads to enjoy the remainder of the summer period, but we want people to do so responsibly," she said.
"Sadly 94 families already this year have been visited by members of An Garda Síochána to be told the devastating news of the loss of a loved one."
The Chairperson of the Road Safety Authority has described the current situation on the roads as a national emergency.
Liz O'Donnell said they are hugely concerned at the increase in road deaths. She said that 94 people have died - an increase of 42% and 673 people have been seriously injured.
Ms O'Donnell welcomed the announcement by Minister Naughton of a doubling of fines for key offences.
She said that while great strides have been made in terms of road safety, the messages still need to be refreshed because there are people who are still not wearing seatbelts and who consider speeding as the norm.
At the launch of the mid-summer road safety appeal in Letterkenny, Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman said it is not just about the numbers but about the people and the families affected by tragedy on the roads. She said that everyone has a responsibility to slow down and keep each other safe.
Her appeal was echoed by Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Letterkenny University Hospital, Dr Áine Keating who said she sees the devastation caused to people's lives by speeding and not wearing seat belts.
Dr Keating said that every day when she has to tell a family that a loved one has died, it is like the worst day of her life. She said huge devastation is also caused by serious injuries like brain injuries and losing limbs, which have horrendous consequences for a person's life.
Assistant Commissioner Hilman said that August last year was the worst August in ten years on our roads with 22 deaths.
She appealed to people as the August bank holiday weekend and peak holiday season approaches to slow down.
She said that gardaí will be out enforcing the rules of the roads and that from 6am today an additional 61 road safety camera zones have become operational, bringing the total number of safety camera zones nationwide to 1,373.
Additional reporting Eileen Magnier
