There will be a number of changes to the rules of the road this year as gardai have warned of a new fine that will come into effect on Tuesday.
Motorists caught parking on footpaths, cycle lanes, and bus lanes will now be given a hefty fine of €80.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan signed off on regulations that will see the fine for the offence double from the previous €40.
Minister Ryan said he hopes the fines will encourage drivers to be more considerate of road space.
He said: "I am very pleased to announce these increased penalties which will both promote active travel and encourage a more considerate use of road space.
"Parking on footpaths puts vulnerable pedestrians, such as wheelchair users and those pushing buggies, at significant risk by forcing them off the footpath and into traffic.
"Parking in bus and cycle lanes endangers cyclists and undermines State investment in sustainable public transport infrastructure.
"These increases should help improve the safety of all vulnerable road and footpath users, by creating a more effective deterrent to these specific forms of illegal parking."
Other changes taking effect in 2022 will impact motorists planning on purchasing a new car in the second half of the year.
A decision made by the EU parliament will mean that all new cars will be prevented from going fast by being fitted with speed limiters.
The speed limiter device uses GPS data and sign recognition cameras to detect speed limits on the road and sounds a warning to automatically slow the car down if it is exceeding the limit.
The European Commission has provisionally mandated that all new vehicles sold in Europe will be fitted with a speed limiter from July 2022.
The speed limiters will be installed in cars, vans, trucks and buses, except for motorcycles.
Speed limiters use Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology, which uses either a video or GPS system to detect speed signs and alert drivers if they are going too fast.
If the driver doesn't slow their speed, the vehicle will intervene and do it for them.
