There has been a huge increase in the number of speeding tickets being issued.

Drivers were caught out by speed cameras nearly 50,000 times between January and October last year, far in excess of the roughly 15,000 for the whole of 2013.

A two-tier fine system is in place, with violations of up to 15km/h above the limit resulting in a fine of €34.94 and higher speeds incurring double the penalty: €69.88. Enforcement of the speed limits, the maximum being 80km/h in certain roads, is carried out through a network of 20 speed cameras installed on several major roads.

It is not just the number of speeding offences that has gone up. According to data provided by the Justice Ministry, in the first 10 months of last year 259,624 tickets were issued by the various authorities, exceeding the total for 2013, which stood at 250,623, and already at par with the 2012 figure of 259,674. (See table)