Anyone caught driving a vehicle with worn or defective tyres from this Sunday, 17th April will face a fixed charge of €80 and two penalty points.
The new rule comes after the RSA’s Pre-Crash Report on Vehicle Factors in Fatal Collisions found that out of 101 fatal collisions that occurred between 2008 and 2012, two thirds were dues to defective tyres.
Donegal was found to have the highest proportion of drivers with defective tyres, closely followed by Cork, Kerry, and Wexford.
"Following consultation with the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána, I have decided to extend the fixed charge notice system to vehicles with defective or worn tyres,” Minister for Transport Paschal Donohue told Newstalk.
"I am urging people to take preventative measures today by checking their vehicles regularly and ensuring they are up to standard and roadworthy. It may just save your life."
