New figures from the Department of Transport and reported in the Irish Independent this morning, have revealed a concerning trend: only 7% of the 7,817 motorists disqualified from driving across Ireland in 2024 surrendered their licences to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), as mandated by the Road Traffic Act.
The compliance rate is even lower among learner drivers, with only 75 out of 1,756 disqualified learners—approximately 4%—handing over their licences.
In Waterford, the situation mirrors the national pattern.
Of the 172 drivers disqualified in the county, merely 14 surrendered their licences, equating to an 8% compliance rate.
Road safety advocates have long criticized the lack of enforcement regarding licence surrenders. Despite legislation introduced in 2011 requiring disqualified drivers to surrender their licences, compliance remains low. Reports indicate that between 9,000 and 10,000 drivers are disqualified annually, yet only 3% of learner drivers and fewer than 10% of qualified motorists comply with the surrender requirement.
The issue of non-compliance is set against a backdrop of increasing road safety concerns. In 2024, Ireland experienced a significant rise in road fatalities, with 188 deaths recorded—the highest in a decade and a 21% increase compared to 2022.
Speeding remains a prevalent offence. Over 145,000 speeding fines were issued in 2024, and during a recent enforcement operation, nearly 4,000 motorists were caught exceeding speed limits within six days.
Driving under the influence also poses a significant threat. In 2024, 7,771 motorists were arrested for driving while intoxicated. Alarmingly, some individuals were arrested multiple times for such offences, with one driver apprehended seven times in a single year.
The RSA has highlighted that over half a million motorists had penalty points applied to their licences in 2023, with speeding, mobile phone use, and unaccompanied learner driving among the top offences.
These statistics underscore the urgent need for enhanced enforcement and public awareness campaigns to address the persistent issues of non-compliance and dangerous driving behaviours on Irish roads.
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