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Penalty Points

This publication has been compiled during the COVID-19 crisis. The results contained in this publication reflect some of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 situation.

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  • During 2020, a total of 198,589 penalty point endorsement notices were issued, an increase of 3.9% on the previous year.
  • 74.0% of all penalty point endorsement notices issued in 2020 were for speeding. This compares with 64.3% in 2019.
  • Males incurred nearly twice as many penalty point endorsement notices as females in 2020. Of the 177,915 endorsement notices where gender was recorded, males incurred 118,413 (66.6%) penalty point endorsement notices while females incurred 59,502 (33.4%) notices.
  • There were 862 drivers with 12 penalty points on their licences on 31st December 2020, of which 72 drivers received all 12 penalty points in 2020. The total number of drivers with penalty points on their licences was 515,249.
Penalty point endorsement notices by offence type, 2020
Speeding 74
Driving a
vehicle
while
holding a
mobile
phone
10.6
Other15.4
Penalty endorsement notices by offence type, 2019
Speeding 64.3
Driving a
vehicle
while
holding a
mobile
phone
14.2
Other21.5
Table 3.1 Key figures for penalty point endorsement notices, 2019 and 2020
Number and rate
Offence type20192020% Change 2019-2020
Male108,023118,4139.6
Female55,09559,5028.0
No gender recorded27,98620,674-26.1
Total endorsement notices issued191,104198,5893.9
Sources: Department of Transport and Road Safety Authority
Table 3.2 Number of penalty points1 recorded by county at 31 December 2019 and 2020
County20192020% Change 2019-2020
Carlow7,9588,3835.3
Cavan9,37710,2048.8
Clare18,87217,610-6.7
Cork62,02863,5252.4
Donegal13,66514,3024.7
Dublin131,220137,3214.6
Galway34,70034,452-0.7
Kerry17,58017,9512.1
Kildare29,13430,0583.2
Kilkenny11,61311,584-0.2
Laois12,19711,925-2.2
Leitrim3,3943,5023.2
Limerick28,16527,387-2.8
Longford5,9686,2735.1
Louth11,60012,3836.7
Mayo16,58216,557-0.2
Meath23,64925,3747.3
Monaghan7,6027,322-3.7
Offaly10,42610,8584.1
Roscommon8,4588,310-1.7
Sligo7,1766,812-5.1
Tipperary19,59920,4254.2
Waterford14,59715,7668.0
Westmeath10,55611,3567.6
Wexford24,87524,433-1.8
Wicklow19,62222,34613.9
Foreign licence holders259,67854,553-8.6
Unknown37698095.2
Total621,060631,7811.7
Sources: Department of Transport and Road Safety Authority
1 Penalty points are recorded on the offender’s driving licence and remain on the licence for a period of three years.
2 Drivers who produce a valid foreign licence and have an Irish address.
3 Unknown refers to non-resident drivers who pay on the spot penalty fines.
Table 3.3 Top 20 penalty point endorsement notices issued, 2019 and 2020
    Number and rate
Offence typePenalty points on paymentPenalty points on conviction20192020% Change 2019-2020
Speeding 35122,893146,95819.6
Driving a vehicle while holding a mobile phone 3527,07321,143-21.9
Driving without reasonable consideration 245,2704,500-14.6
Use vehicle without NCT certificate 356,5863,878-41.1
Fail to obey traffic lights 354,3143,553-17.6
Learner driver unaccompanied by a qualified driver 243,3123,068-7.4
Adult Failing to wear Safety Belt cat. M1 Vehicle 354,1072,468-39.9
No insurance - (user) n/a54,3342,420-44.2
Non-Display of L Plate (Learner Driver) 241,4451,284-11.1
Adult Failing to wear Safety Belt cat. N1 Vehicle 351,332942-29.3
Cross continuous white line/broken white line 351,055846-19.8
Fail to comply with prohibitory traffic signs 131,241738-40.5
Non-Display of N plate (Novice driver)2453559411.0
Driver Fail Restrain Child O/3 in Child Restraint 35604525-13.1
Adult Failing to wear Safety Belt cat. N3 Vehicle 354805034.8
Careless Driving n/a5624465-25.5
Dangerous Driving Reduced to Careless Driving 35544442-18.8
Driver Fail ensure Passenger U/17 wear Safety Belt 35534414-22.5
Offence relating to Overtaking 35648383-40.9
Adult Failing to wear Safety Belt cat. N2 Vehicle35433378-12.7
Sources: Department of Transport and Road Safety Authority
1 n/a-Mandatory court offence
Table 3.4 Number of penalty point endorsement notices issued by gender and county, 2020
CountyFemaleMaleNo gender recordedTotal
Carlow9051,804612,770
Cavan1,1492,204743,427
Clare1,7043,131854,920
Cork6,30312,73742819,468
Donegal1,4773,0561644,697
Galway4,4697,06227111,802
Kerry1,6533,2961895,138
Kildare2,9856,2811589,424
Kilkenny1,0392,179533,271
Laois1,1192,369873,575
Leitrim343696261,065
Limerick2,2434,5132947,050
Longford5401,256591,855
Louth1,1642,8741144,152
Mayo1,7243,430615,215
Meath2,9535,8051308,888
Monaghan6781,301612,040
Offaly1,1262,332773,535
Roscommon9111,795632,769
Sligo5371,179331,749
Tipperary2,2684,3011446,713
Waterford1,4843,1071044,695
Westmeath1,3612,477783,916
Wexford2,4075,0501187,575
Wicklow3,1025,064808,246
Dublin13,85829,11493143,903
Foreign licence holder1  16,46616,466
Unknown2  265265
Total59,502118,41320,674198,589
Source: Department of Transport
1 Drivers who produce a valid foreign licence and have an Irish address.
2 Unknown refers to non-resident drivers who pay on the spot penalty fines.
Table 3.5 Number of penalty point endorsement notices issued by gender, 2014 - 2020
YearFemaleMaleNo gender recordedTotal
201473,397122,80836,925233,130
201578,450132,46738,682249,599
201662,461105,38231,001198,844
201756,142102,12530,828189,095
201850,46098,99327,639177,092
201955,095108,02327,986191,104
202059,502118,41320,674198,589
Source: Department of Transport
Table 3.6 Number of penalty point endorsement notices issued by gender and age, 2020
Age profileFemaleMaleNo gender recordedTotal% of total
Under 21 6352,989 3,6241.8
21 to 25 3,66210,369 14,0317.1
26 to 30 5,50011,818 17,3188.7
31 to 35 6,92913,859 20,78810.5
36 to 408,56015,845 24,40512.3
41 to 458,51314,978 23,49111.8
46 to 507,94013,812 21,75211.0
51 to 556,42711,247 17,6748.9
56 to 604,5808,792 13,3726.7
61 to 652,9226,150 9,0724.6
over 65 3,8348,554 12,3886.2
Date of birth not recorded  20,67420,67410.4
Total59,502118,41320,674198,589100.0
Source: Department of Transport
Table 3.7 Number of penalty point endorsement notices issued to males by offence type and age group, 2020
Offence descriptionAge (years)  
Under 2121-2526-3031-4041-5051-6566 and overTotal%
Speeding 1,6386,9388,12720,56321,06919,9997,00085,33472.1
Driving a vehicle while holding a mobile phone 1719681,4524,7253,7202,71652914,28112.1
Driving without reasonable consideration 2234353446955885162183,0192.5
Fail to obey traffic lights 672172365805855271522,3642.0
Use vehicle without NCT certificate 36205278607630422912,2691.9
Learner driver unaccompanied by a qualified driver 2814833224402398671,8581.6
Adult Failing to wear Safety Belt cat. M1 Vehicle 351151403683824951891,7241.5
Adult Failing to wear Safety Belt cat. N1 Vehicle 83654185194252868150.7
Non-Display of L Plate (Learner Driver) 137201158190842828000.7
Cross continuous white line/broken white line 217152116149144425950.5
No insurance - (user) 159412616710471155920.5
Fail to comply with prohibitory traffic signs 73754140125133285240.4
Non-Display of N plate (Novice driver) 201170634410314920.4
Adult Failing to wear Safety Belt cat. N3 Vehicle 072064133137203810.3
Adult Failing to wear Safety Belt cat. N2 Vehicle 5932596784342900.2
Driver Fail Restrain Child O/3 in Child Restraint 111271107637122740.2
Offence relating to Overtaking 12332666574582470.2
Driver Fail ensure Passenger U/17 wear Safety Belt 11151558623672040.2
Entry to hatched marked area 8131148504391820.2
Bald/Not maintained/cause damage tyre-Right front wheel17232846312251720.1
Other offence types95288253433435393991,9961.7
Total issued2,98910,36911,81829,70428,79026,1898,554118,413100.0
Source: Department of Transport
Table 3.8 Number of penalty point endorsement notices issued to females by offence type and age group, 2020
Offence descriptionAge (years) 
Under 2121-2526-3031-4041-5051-6566 and overTotal%
Speeding 4302,7034,07611,79013,36412,0223,47947,86480.4
Driving a vehicle while holding a mobile phone 392825621,8081,409794904,9848.4
Learner driver unaccompanied by a qualified driver 612372093212189811,1451.9
Use vehicle without NCT certificate 546106370353190271,0971.8
Driving without reasonable consideration 29101113231238182869801.6
Fail to obey traffic lights 125694228236209458801.5
Non-Display of L Plate (Learner Driver) 238386121922524320.7
Adult Failing to wear Safety Belt cat. M1 Vehicle 31136119106113414290.7
No insurance - (user) 3214076411932030.3
Driver Fail Restrain Child O/3 in Child Restraint 182980441731820.3
Fail to comply with prohibitory traffic signs 191838544251670.3
Cross continuous white line/broken white line 6141733494331650.3
Driver Fail ensure Passenger U/17 wear Safety Belt 041756482251520.3
Non-Display of N plate (Novice driver)10351925411950.2
Offence relating to Overtaking 0761727115730.1
Careless Driving 2271213149590.1
Driver Fail Restrain Child U/3 in Child Restraint 1515171350560.1
Bald/Not maintained/cause damage tyre-Right front wheel1251511110450.1
Entry to hatched marked area225138152470.1
Bald/Not maintained/cause damage tyre-Left front wheel144131031360.1
Other offence types5303610611593264110.7
Total issued6353,6625,50015,48916,45313,9293,83459,502100.0
Source: Department of Transport
Table 3.9 Top 10 penalty point endorsement notices issued for males by county, 2020
Number
CountyTotal no. of penalty point endorsement notices issuedSpeedingDriving a vehicle while holding a mobile phoneDriving without reasonable considerationFail to obey traffic lightsUse vehicle without NCT certificateLearner driver unaccompanied by a qualified driverAdult failing to wear safety belt cat. M1 vehicleAdult failing to wear safety belt cat. N1 vehicleNon-display of L Plate (learner driver)Cross continuous white line/broken white line
Carlow1,8041,1183993614274238162210
Cavan2,2041,6362466512442816121612
Clare3,1312,402356571754194317714
Cork12,7379,2271,603275216205208232627361
Donegal3,0562,09438713328632445381236
Dublin29,11421,6862,4857471,2446735292417124258
Galway7,0625,1798871631049470112502543
Kerry3,2962,2385197819503811135934
Kildare6,2814,4577842251421319260395739
Kilkenny2,1791,439377622852315110119
Laois2,3691,600359681955634220149
Leitrim69651380174106211012
Limerick4,5133,164558102819253110642518
Longford1,25681915550152533168175
Louth2,8742,006423747458432719235
Mayo3,4302,4845637322232743151425
Meath5,8054,30379211687835254462840
Monaghan1,301898158359191418111123
Offaly2,3321,6792566125542848382517
Roscommon1,7951,29920850632272622614
Sligo1,17983214721143115201134
Tipperary4,3013,02558011032838682294638
Waterford3,1072,07548811430607557282915
Westmeath2,4771,8532647914453241171611
Wexford5,0503,35379410228103159115733622
Wicklow5,0643,955413106801036455543231
Total118,41385,33414,2813,0192,3642,2691,8581,724815800595
Source: Department of Transport
Table 3.10 Top 10 penalty point endorsement notices issued for females by county, 2020
Number
CountyTotal no. of penalty point endorsement notices issuedSpeedingDriving a vehicle while holding a mobile phoneLearner driver unaccompanied by a qualified driverUse vehicle without NCT certificateDriving without reasonable considerationFail to obey traffic lightsNon-Display of L Plate (Learner Driver)Adult failing to wear safety belt cat. M1 vehicleNo insurance - (user)Driver Fail Restrain Child O/3 in Child Restraint
Carlow9056341672613176121023
Cavan1,1499636918281919271
Clare1,7041,3551861421301171668
Cork6,3035,068559121931019032601133
Donegal1,4771,207126112243651175
Dublin13,85811,207833322332202424109445631
Galway4,4693,7933492741644915231419
Kerry1,6531,2682102028191392538
Kildare2,9852,354275775659533017105
Kilkenny1,03975013232212714121024
Laois1,119867992840241181043
Leitrim34328526331020420
Limerick2,2431,719225315533212043922
Longford54040235301115410565
Louth1,164900107321925339890
Mayo1,7241,433174161716118534
Meath2,9532,49323131414530101131
Monaghan67857753110956122
Offaly1,1269277116261611121524
Roscommon91177155111113711481
Sligo53742949681340303
Tipperary2,2681,82422232364081718115
Waterford1,4841,04620939394315162351
Westmeath1,3611,1647131153429462
Wexford2,4071,7692851254730132536811
Wicklow3,1022,65916645643346212171
Total59,50247,8644,9841,1451,097980880432429203182
Source: Department of Transport
Table 3.11 Number of drivers by number of penalty points applied in 2020
 Number of Drivers 
 1 P.P2 P.P3 P.P4 P.P5 P.P6 P.P7 P.P18 P.P9 P.P10 P.P11 P.P12 P.P2Total
Carlow31302,1222110614754121202,553
Cavan131722,6031116018419111023,167
Clare181583,918816926036213014,565
Cork6177515,4866974492016405493718,184
Donegal342423,6281526819851291114,414
Dublin4681,91733,8982231,5042,32534781491971440,636
Galway593569,355464406178203872510,953
Kerry161854,0633426523141094224,825
Kildare474817,33336265503314295138,720
Kilkenny91882,60610981461652013,072
Laois91932,66031134212111143113,270
Leitrim44482854957012100991
Limerick382765,38730464336515196326,581
Longford51391,31226123808553111,708
Louth201743,18918181208313202223,832
Mayo71954,2251114025759141114,866
Meath592797,09423208515111303028,225
Monaghan24791,6121490730793111,913
Offaly71332,7322013120407130023,249
Roscommon61422,135121101402891012,566
Sligo21861,367764771463001,636
Tipperary223045,17434278352314225226,212
Waterford192923,54234181238311145014,340
Westmeath171703,0082116021951055013,621
Wexford324095,672702704268212510236,948
Wicklow302666,56326203471216314147,617
Foreign licence holder310057913,8821222765311666031215,551
Unknown4001102540000000265
Total1,1488,364155,3958777,28610,0491283786411073572184,480
Source: Department of Transport
1 Receipt of 7 points results in disqualification for six months for certain Novice and Learner Permit Drivers issued a licence since 01 August 2014.
2 Receipt of 12 points results in disqualification for six months.
3 Drivers who produce a valid foreign licence and have an Irish address.
4 Unknown refers to non-resident drivers who pay on the spot penalty fines.
Table 3.12 Number of drivers by cumulative number of penalty points and county at 31st December 2020
 Number of Drivers 
 1 P.P2 P.P3 P.P4 P.P5 P.P6 P.P7 P.P18 P.P9 P.P10 P.P11 P.P12 P.P2Total
Carlow314904,65210139176727671101315206,684
Cavan336405,69210157590327791332019108,232
Clare568449,9201297481,7473414329123352413,994
Cork3323,43936,7817513,4515,5501474297921201057851,975
Donegal701,0038,5391241,0181,033328314221241412,103
Dublin1,9669,28272,8552,1089,14611,1654029461,740362214199110,385
Galway1371,47720,0983361,8703,2437018047953536128,057
Kerry4987510,5952001,0881,544329922235342214,795
Kildare1571,94016,5703511,5492,6385320641464424924,033
Kilkenny427666,5801375371,04924861361924119,411
Laois357106,2741596811,101271022092923149,364
Leitrim82102,12128153298127445652,906
Limerick1191,36714,7542971,8842,6885921237867532921,907
Longford194563,153954975431957712013144,957
Louth828826,898162891960277912321181610,159
Mayo2868210,241975391,62719842221923913,590
Meath1801,30514,7802431,2622,2875412832641262820,660
Monaghan794704,31488436582124474141086,131
Offaly215955,9341236721,0042472157181498,643
Roscommon244874,7667640776113661031010136,736
Sligo443914,086732945521551107101425,639
Tipperary681,30111,4532331,1291,7764414727150382716,537
Waterford561,0868,4501798001,4694711825430252712,541
Westmeath396746,380113712968341011232920189,211
Wexford1391,35412,8193041,1942,4177123342754765519,143
Wicklow1141,14912,4132288292,2265614337746354217,658
Foreign licence holder33632,16042,054759622,7073615040211305849,008
Unknown40316337362000000790
Total4,29136,038363,1886,94434,45153,6071,4064,1328,1271,204999862515,249
Source: Department of Transport
1 Receipt of 7 points results in disqualification for six months for certain Novice and Learner Permit Drivers issued a licence since 01 August 2014.
2 Receipt of 12 points results in disqualification for six months.
3 Drivers who produce a valid foreign licence and have an Irish address.
4 Unknown refers to non-resident drivers who pay on the spot penalty fines.

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