The offences for which fines have doubled from 27 October include speeding (from €80 to €160), mobile phone use (€60 to €120), non-wearing of seatbelts (€60 to €120) and failing to ensure that a child is properly restrained (€60 to €120).

Certain fines relating to safety offences committed by learner and novice drivers are also increasing.

The fine for a learner permit holder driving a vehicle unaccompanied by a qualified person will increase from €80 to €160. The fine for novice and learner drivers not displaying ‘L’ or ‘N’ plates, or tabards in the case of motorcyclists, will double to €120.

Three new fixed charge notices will also come into force in the new year, relating to the misuse of a disabled parking permit. Illegally parking in an electric charging bay and breaching a HGV ban and entering a specified public road without a valid permit.

Hildegarde Naughton, minister of state at the Department of Transport, announced the measures at the Road Safety Authority’s (RSA) annual conference yesterday.

“As of today there have been 123 people killed on the road, an increase of 12 on this day last year, and compared to 2019,” the minister said.

“In response to the increase in road deaths this year, this summer I announced that I was bringing forward the implementation of Action 30 in the Road Safety Strategy to review the penalties for serious road traffic offences and said that I intended to increase the fines for those offences that significantly contribute to road deaths.”

She added: “These fines have not increased since they were introduced, in some cases almost 20 years ago. Increasing fines for road offences will act as a stronger deterrent to those who choose to break our lifesaving rules of the road.”

Liz O’Donnell, chairperson of the RSA, said: “Speed continues to be a contributory factor to fatal collisions in Ireland. Analysis of Irish coronial data shows that one quarter of driver fatalities with a record of their actions available were exceeding a safe speed.

“Recent survey research conducted by the RSA found that a third of drivers admitted to exceeding 50km/h speed limits by more than 10km/h ‘at least sometimes’. The same research found that just under a third of drivers reported exceeding 100km/h speed limits by more than 10km/h ‘at least sometimes’.

“This behaviour is concerning and that is why I want to commend the minister’s decision to double the fines for drivers who break lifesaving rules of the road. It is timely as we head into a high-risk bank holiday and should help put us on the path to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 50 per cent by the end of the decade.”