Relying on apps instead of your car’s speedometer in Ireland could mean fines, points or even a court appearance.
Not using your speedometer isn’t illegal itself, but relying on other methods can cause issues. You could face fines and penalty points, and dangerous driving charges are possible, especially if you speed or break other laws.
A survey found some surprising results; one in ten drivers don’t use their speedometer. Most drivers, 86%, use their dashboard speedometer to stay within legal speed limits. However, 14% use other methods to judge their road speed.
Mobile tech fuels this trend as apps and SatNavs track speed in real-time. Some drivers skip the built-in speedometer, with eight percent primarily using a phone app or SatNav to measure their speed.
Six percent judge speed in other ways, watching other drivers or using their “natural intuition.” Furthermore, speed misjudgment can cause legal problems, and the penalties could be severe.
SatNavs seem handy, but using them instead of speedometers is risky, and it may violate Irish road safety laws. Ireland’s Road Traffic Act restricts distracting devices, including communication and entertainment systems.
Hands-free devices aren’t banned outright, but the RSA warns of crash risks. These devices increase the risk, and you could face prosecution for careless or dangerous driving, as mobile use makes crashes four times more likely.
Mobile phones can help drivers – you can call for help if needed and report crashes to emergency services or tell people you are delayed. However, don’t use your phone while driving as it isn’t safe and could be illegal.
You can only use a phone for emergencies by calling 999 or 112. Holding a phone while driving is an offense, and supporting it with your body is also wrong.
Police will issue a fine of €60, plus two penalty points. Ignoring the fine means court proceedings, where a conviction brings four points and the fine could reach €2,000.
Exceeding speed limits has consequences, and you can expect fines, penalty points, and possible disqualification from driving. Rule breakers get a €160 fine, and three penalty points are added, but unpaid fines rise to €240 after 28 days.