Existing penalty point rules need to be enforced before we create new ones, a motoring journalist has said.
It comes amid a mounting number of road deaths in recent days.
Sixty-nine people have lost their lives on Irish roads so far this year, an increase of 18 on the same period last year.
Completecar.ie Editor Shane O'Donoghue told The Pat Kenny Show something has got to change.
"It's totally heartbreaking [but] sadly it's not actually a surprise given the behaviour on our roads," he said.
"There's been a clear deterioration in road behavior and people adhering to every day rules, nevermind more dangerous rules that lead to crashes and deaths.
"It's not a surprise; we really need to do something about this."
'Zero enforcement'
Mr O'Donoghue said a lack of enforcement is the big issue.
"In my view it's clearly because there's zero, or very little enforcement, of the rules of the road," he said.
"We don't see enough Gardaí on the roads day in, day out - they need to be on the road every single day.
"Not occasionally, not just at the side of the motorway doing speeding, it needs to be everyday visibly stopping people from breaking simple rules of the road".
'Enforce what we have'
Mr O'Donoghue said he doesn't think more rules are the answer.
"I don't think the rules need changing as such - I don't think we need more penalty points or stricter penalty points," he said.
"I just think we need to massively enforce what we have.
"Clearly the RSA and all kinds of campaigns are trying to dangle a carrot in front of motorists in terms of increasing safety.
"But I really do think it's time for the stick.
"We need to stop them from breaking the rules and be afraid of losing their licence."
Mr O'Donoghue said drivers believe they can get away with more.
"If people see people going up a bus lane everyday and think, 'OK I'm going to do that'," he said.
"Next thing you know people are speeding up the bus lane to do it quicker.
"Then they're break a red light and they increase their speed past a school... it completely escalates from simple rules of the road".
Mr O'Donoghue added that he believes drivers should be educated at a younger age "rather than trying to shock them into better behaviour later on".
Listen back here:
