Tougher penalties for dangerous drivers are on the way, after the Road Traffic Bill was passed by the Oireachtas.

This bill will now be forwarded to the President for his signature, after it was passed by the Seanad yesterday.

The legislation reduces speed limits, reforms penalty points and mandates drug testing at the scene of serious crashes.

Junior Minister for Road Safety Jack Chambers said the country has seen a very disturbing upward trend in road deaths in the last few years, which is continuing into 2024.  

Jack Chambers. Picture by: PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo/Brian Lawless

Speaking to the Dáil earlier this year, Minister Chambers described the bill as an “urgent and essential” part of the Government’s effort to reduce road traffic deaths. 

“Time is of the essence,” he told TDs. 

“Ireland has made great progress on road safety since the turn of the millennium. In 1999, there were 413 deaths on Irish roads. 

“In 2018, there were 134. However, the trend has now turned in the wrong direction.”

Last year, 184 people lost their lives in 173 fatal collisions, compared to 155 deaths in 2022.

So far this year, 61 people have died on Irish roads.

Main image: Garda standing at the scene of a crash. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo