Penalty points surge: more than half a million drivers flagged across Ireland

Recent figures from the department of justice showed a total of 59,603 people were caught by gardaí driving while using their phones between 2022 and 2024. File picture

There are currently more than half a million drivers with penalty points on their licence of whom 866 have 12 points, meaning they are each subject to an automatic six-month ban.

There are a total of 512,791 drivers with penalty points currently on their licence across the State as of the end of April 2025, according to the most recent monthly report from the Road Safety Authority. 

The CSO said in 2023 there were 3.4m driver licences across the country.

Over 30% of all drivers with penalty points are in Cork (51,360) and Dublin (112,393).

Under current laws, penalty points remain on an individual's licence for three years after they are applied. 

If a driver receives 12 penalty points, they receive an automatic six month driving suspension.

After Cork and Dublin, the third highest number of drivers with penalty points are foreign licence holders who have an Irish address, with 49,082 receiving penalty points.

The county with the lowest number of drivers with any amount of penalty points was in Leitrim, with 3,090 drivers receiving points on their licences.

The vast majority (405,522) of drivers with penalty points on their licence have between one and three points. 

Of the 866 drivers who have amassed 12 penalty points and are subject to the six-month ban, 83 are in Cork and 247 in Dublin.

A garda checkpoint in Carlow. There are a total of 512,791 drivers with penalty points currently on their licence across the State Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins

Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central Padraig O’Sullivan raised concern about the large numbers of drivers being caught breaking the law and being issued with penalty points.

“I’m concerned at the high level of drivers with penalty points across the board, but what is particularly worrisome is the over 100,000 drivers who have between five and 12 points on their licence,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

"This means that people are taking more risks while driving and being caught by gardaí for multiple offences.

“We’ve seen in responses to my own parliamentary questions that the number of people being caught driving while using their phones is steadily increasing.”

The Cork North Central TD said people are “very casually” breaking the rules of the road.

“While gardaí cannot be everywhere at once, it is imperative that we see more effective education of drivers who do receive penalty points to ensure they don’t break the law again.”

Recent figures from the department of justice showed a total of 59,603 people were caught by gardaí driving while using their phones between 2022 and 2024.

The data also suggests the problem is worsening, with 21,888 people caught last year compared to 19,106 in 2023, and 18,609 in 2022.

For the first three months of 2025, there were 6,073 people caught driving while using their phones. If this trend continues throughout the remaining nine months of the year, 2025 will have the highest level of drivers caught using their phones.