A large proportion of Irish motorists have a "lax attitude" to committing road infringements, particularly using mobile phones while driving a new survey has found.
The results showed that almost half of all motorists are breaking the law by using their mobile phone while driving without a hands-free kit. Just over a quarter of all motorists admitted to "running red lights".
The motorists surveyed also admitted to occasionally driving in bus lanes when they are restricted solely for bus and taxi use (21.3 per cent) and occasionally driving on a hard shoulder at any other time other than in the case of an emergency (36.2 per cent).
However, most surveyed believed stricter enforcement of the driving laws with more policing and tougher penalty points would improve road safety. Education and better roads were also significant elements respondents felt could improve road safety.
On seatbelt compliance, the FBD Advance Pitstop National Survey of Motorists' Behavior and Attitudes to Road Safety 2004 found that 90.9 per cent of drivers surveyed always wore a seatbelt, but, did not place the same importance on back seat passengers (73 per cent compliant) and children over 4 years-of-age (85.5 per cent compliant).
Irish people also rely heavily on their cars with four in every five motorists never using public transport, with 3 out of every four respondents having two or more cars in their household.
Only 8.1 per cent of respondents were regular users of public transport, with most motorists saying it was cheaper and quicker to complete their journey by car.
Most surveyed felt the national secondary and primary roads were poor, but, thought, the State's dual carriagways and motorways were good.
Over 1,100 respondents completed the "nationwide survey".