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The Government is considering legislation that would change the way fines are levied on speeding. Currently, speeding is a single offence, attracting an €80 fine and three penalty points no matter how much you were exceeding the posted limit.
Proposals being put to the cabinet today (11 December 2018) by Minister for Transport Shane Ross would see that change. In the proposals, the existing €80 fine would remain in place for exceeding the limit by up 10km/h, with the points possibly extending to as many as five penalty points. For those between 10- and 20km/h over the limit, that fine would increase to €150 and between four and six points on your licence. At 20-30km/h over the limit, the fine goes up to €200, and you'll get seven points. At more than 31km/h over the limit, you're past the point of points and fines, and into being charged with dangerous driving.
Mr Ross will also bring forward proposals that would see a variable speed limit introduced on Dublin's M50 motorway, with lower limits enforced when traffic volumes are high. Mr Ross contends that this would improve both traffic flow and safety.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr Ross said: "The idea of speeding being the next point of attack in terms of road safety is mine. It is in response to figures in relation to speeding that we have got from the Road Safety Authority and other agencies. Speeding is not equally as bad as drink-driving, but it is a very high-risk behaviour and it needs to be addressed."
There are concerns being voiced though that the move to change speeding fines is a headline-grabbing exercise, not an especially useful deterrent. Speaking to The Irish Examiner, the AA's Conor Faughnan said: "I would consider it a much more impactful measure if Shane Ross was announcing a doubling of the Dublin Garda Traffic Corp. That might be far less eye-catching, but it is far more important."