A huge number of car and truck drivers are breaking speed limits and putting thousands of lives at risk on Ireland's roads, a National Roads Authority (NRA) report has claimed.
The report, published today, says the number of heavy trucks speeding on national secondary roads, where most fatal crashes involving trucks happen, has doubled in the past four years.
The statistics are based on three surveys carried out between June and August of 2002 - before the introduction of penalty points.
Among the other findings in the report are that 99 per cent of cars broke speed limit in outer 30 mph zones, with 82 per cent speeding in 40 mph zones. A total of 61 per cent of cars speed in residential urban areas with 30 mph speed limits.
On main roads with 30 mph limit stretches, 97 per cent of cars, 92 per cent of articulated lorries and 85 per cent of normal trucks break the limit, the NRA report said. On motorways, 81 per cent of articulated trucks, 82 per cent of trucks, and 24 per cent of cars speed.
The Irish Road Hauliers' Association (IRHA) said it was "unfair" to blame truck drivers when speed limits are being broken across the board. Mr Jimmy Quinn of the IRHA said the statistics are deceptive and that the speed limits - many of which have been in place since the 1960s - need to be reviewed.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, said the report showed a high level of non-observance of speed-limits prior to the introduction of penalty points.
Speed limiters, a device required by law to be fitted into heavy goods trucks, are "rarely inspected" due to gardaí not having the resources, according to Fine Gael transport spokesman Mr Dennis Naughten.