Motorist behaviour worsened in 2004 - survey

Irish motorists are breaking the rules of the road with increasing impunity because they do not believe they are likely to be caught, a new national survey of drivers behaviour has shown.

It found that over the last 12 months the numbers of drivers admitting to speeding, breaking red lights and using their mobile phones has risen.

This has led to an increase in road rage, according to the National Survey of Motorists' Behaviour and Attitudes to Road Safety, carried out by UCD Smurfit Business School for FBD insurance and Advance Pitstop.

Four out of five motorists admitted breaking the speed limit and just under half, 44 per cent, admitting to driving after drinking alcohol.

Adrian Taheny, FBD's director of marketing and sales, said although motorists admitted they were aware they were breaking the rules, the only effective deterrent was increased policing.

Drivers were more likely to see a Garda checkpoint outside the Leopardstown racecourse at a roundabout than they were on a national road, where the survey showed, the majority of the speeding takes place, he said.

"Speeding is the major cause of accidents yet 80 per cent of motorists knowingly break the speed limit," Mr Taheny said. When asked what could be done to improve road safety, two-thirds of drivers responding to the survey suggested more policing.

The intractable issue of drink-driving was highlighted again, with 40 per cent of drivers admitting to having drunk three or more units of alcohol before driving.

More than half of the 745 drivers surveyed admitted to travelled in a car with a driver who was under the influence of either drink or drugs.

Three-quarters of motorists used their mobile phones while driving, despite only 35 per cent having hands-free kits, and half the drivers using a mobile are using text messaging, Mr Taheny said. Younger drivers were most likely to use a mobile phone while driving, the report found.

The proportion of motorists experiencing road rage increased over the last year to 62 per cent, and there were also a higher number of drivers becoming tired at the wheel - an increase from 39 per cent to 45 per cent - the survey found. One in eight drivers admitted falling asleep while driving.

Copies of the report have been sent to An Garda, the Departments of Transport, Justice and Environment and the National Safety Council and the National Roads Authority.