MORE THAN HALF a million people had penalty points on their driving licences this year. 

Data released by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) shows that a total of 551,245 people had points on their licences on 30 September 2023. 

This represents an increase of 8,156 from last year, when a total of 543,089 people had points on their licences on 30 September 2022.

Similar to last year, the highest numbers were seen in some of the most highly populated areas of the country – Dublin (116,650 people) , followed by Cork (60,917) and Galway (28,290).

The counties with the lowest number of drivers with penalty points were ones that had some of the country’s lowest populations – Leitrim with 3,282 points, Longford with 5,153 and Sligo with 5,981. 

46,878 of the people with penalty points placed on licences in the period covered were foreign licence holders.

Essentially, a penalty point is a formal reprimand by An Garda Síochána endorsed on a person’s driving licence to show that they are guilty of a specific driving offence. Such offences include speeding, breaking red lights, holding a mobile phone while driving and driving without insurance.

Here’s a county-by-county breakdown:

• Carlow – 7,157
• Cavan – 8,545
• Clare – 14,836 
• Cork – 60,917
• Donegal – 13,184
• Dublin – 116,650
• Galway – 28,290
• Kerry – 14,906
• Kildare – 27,354
• Kilkenny – 9,995
• Laois – 10,384
• Leitrim – 3,282
• Limerick – 21,081
• Longford – 5,153
• Louth – 11,130
• Mayo – 12,852
• Meath – 21,388
• Monaghan – 6,204
• Offaly – 11,106
• Roscommon – 7,442
• Sligo –5,981
• Tipperary – 21,090
• Waterford – 13,395
• Westmeath – 11,678
• Wexford – 19,883
• Wicklow – 18,915

The information provided by the RSA also gave a breakdown of the number of penalty points drivers had on their licenses.

Most drivers included in the list had three penalty points (394,266), while 36,809 people had two points and 59,346 had six points. 

Overall, 16,884 drivers had seven or more penalty points. A total of 895 drivers across the country had 12 points. 

Being issued with 12 penalty points results in disqualification for six months, while novice and learner permit drivers face disqualification if they receive seven points on their licence.

The figures give a snapshot of penalty points in Ireland, as they show the number of penalty points drivers in each county had on 30 September.

As penalty points stay on a driver’s licence for three years, these points could have been given at any stage over the past three years.

Related Reads

Motorists to face higher penalty points on bank holiday weekends

It was announced in October that the number of penalty points for motorists committing traffic offences are to increase on Bank Holidays under new proposed legislation.

The new Road Traffic Measures Bill 2023 will allow the number of penalty points to increase during specific times when road safety risks are higher.

Data from Ireland has shown a higher number of road deaths and serious injuries occur during bank holiday weekends, with a total of 46 fatal or serious injuries taking place over the February, June and August bank holiday weekends this year.

In the same period, over 10,000 motorists were caught speeding and 340 people were arrested for drink-driving.

A full list of offences which can result in penalty points can be found here.