Breaches of speed limits and rules of road revealed in survey

More than 40 per cent of Irish motorists consider it broadly acceptable to break the 100km/h speed limit, with almost 20 per cent of drivers classed as "high-speeding rule violators", according to latest research from the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

Based on questionnaires put to more than 1,000 motorists, Driver Attitudes and Behaviour Survey 2014 showed a catalogue of self-admitted safety infringements, from drink driving to use of mobile phones, speed-camera "manipulation" and negative attitudes to pedestrians.

The RSA said the research showed clearly that young, affluent male drivers were among the greatest breakers of speed limits and rules of the road.

Drink driving

The research found 11 per cent of motorists – representing about 285,000 motorists if extrapolated – admitted they had driven after taking alcohol in the last year and more than a third of these had had two or more drinks.

The survey found older drivers were more likely to drive after taking alcohol, with the 65- plus age group the largest cohort. Men outnumbered women by more than two to one.

While more than 60 per cent of drivers claimed not to drink at all before driving (as opposed for instance to having one bottle of beer), this declined to 48 per cent for those who drank alcohol on a weekly basis, and 40 per cent for those who had a history of speeding and rule violations.

Hand-held mobile phones

Almost one in three drivers (31 per cent) admitted they had spoken on hand-held mobile phones while driving, while 16 per cent admitted texting and 7 per cent said they had checked their mobile apps while in control of a vehicle.

The figures showed some 45 per cent of drivers said they had spoken on hands-free phones, with more than 400,000 motorists estimated to use hand-held mobile phones while driving. Fewer than half of transgressors thought it likely they would be caught by gardaí.

One in three drivers were also found to be speed-camera “manipulators”, driving more slowly only at speed camera locations.

Motorists also showed a negative attitude to pedestrians, with 95 per cent claiming pedestrians were frequently distracted by taking or making phone calls or texting.

Some 69 per cent of drivers said they had exceeded the 50km/h speed limit by less than 10 per cent, while 61 per cent of respondents admitted breaking the 100km/h speed limit by less than 10km/h.

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