Survey finds 43% of Irish drivers admit to speeding on national roads

Some motorists believed the speed limits in certain areas were set too low. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins 

More than four in 10 Irish drivers have admitted to exceeding speed limits 

A new survey of motorists revealed 43% have sped on Irish roads.

Of those that did, reasons for doing so included:

• They believed it was safe to do so (16%);
• They were in a hurry (14%);
• They believed the speed limits in certain areas were set too low (11%).
  The majority of Irish drivers say they do not break speed limits (57%) or at least do their best to avoid it (39%).

Other key statistics from the research show women appear to take greater care on the roads, with 59% saying they always endeavour to stay within the speed limits, compared to 52% of men.

Speed limit compliance tends to increase with age, with 47% of 18-24-year-olds trying their best to stay within limits, rising steadily to 49% of 25-34-year-olds, 52% of 35-44-year-olds, 53% of 45-54-year-olds, and 66% of those aged 55 and over.

Men are more likely than women to say they break speed limits because they believe some limits are “unreasonably low” (15% vs 9%). 

This view is especially common among the youngest drivers, with 27% of 18-24-year-olds expressing this belief, compared to just 9% of those aged 55 and over.

One in five drivers aged 18 to 34 (21%) admit they will speed if they believe it is safe to do so.

Almost one in 10 (8%) drivers say they are more likely to speed on empty roads late at night.

So far in 2025, 77 people have been killed on Irish roads.

Recent figures from An Garda Síochána show in the first three months of the year, just over 32,000 fixed charge notices have been issued for speeding.

The survey, published on Tuesday by Ask Acorn, shows one in five drivers are speeding unintentionally.

Earlier this month, residents in a Cork town called for a specific campaign to be run by the Road Safety Authority to prevent speed limits being broken.

The issue was raised at a meeting in County Hall by Carrigaline-based Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Donovan, who said it had become a frequent occurrence that drivers were breaking red lights and pedestrians were also taking chances.

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Mr Donovan added pedestrian crossings were not uniform and he would like to see all of them with raised crossing tables incorporated.

“You simply won't pick up speed if you see a raised table.

"Raised tables have the effect of slowing cars down, which in turn makes drivers more aware of their surrounding,” he said.