Northern Ireland has its own Highway Code which, according to the NI Direct website, is based on the edition used in Great Britain, but does contain some differences.
Here is the new legislation you need to be aware of when you are taking to the roads in Northern Ireland:
Speed limiters
Rather than limiting the speed, as satellite navigation does now, Intelligent Speed Assistance systems (ISA) will alert drivers if they are speeding. It is understood that these ISA systems will start to appear in new cars from 6th July 2022. Moving forward the ISA systems will be fitted to most new cars registered in Northern Ireland after July 2024. The Intelligence Speed Assistance systems will activate by default when the engine is started, but the driver is not obliged to use the system if they prefer not to.
What penalties does speeding carry?
The penalty for breaking the speed limit in Northern Ireland is a fine between £60 and £200 payable in 21 days. Penalty points added to a licence can lead to the possibility of disqualification from driving.
Mobile phone use in vehicles
New legislation was brought forward in February 2021 to increase the penalty points and fines in Northern Ireland for those caught using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving. The penalties are then in line with in Great Britain.
What is the penalty for using a phone or sat nav whilst driving?
It is illegal to hold a phone or sat nav while driving, even while stationary (unless used to call the emergency services and it is unsafe or impractical to stop). In Northern Ireland, if you are caught using a hand-held mobile phone or sat nav while driving or riding, you will automatically get a fixed penalty notice of six penalty points and a fine of £200. If your case goes to court, you may face disqualification on top of a maximum fine of £1,000.
Numerous driving offences can often result in fines, points on a licence – and, in more serious cases, driving bans and criminal prosecutions. Read about the most common traffic offences and appeals in our up-to-date blog post.
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