Driving offences to see penalty points increase

Penalty points are to be increased for drivers who speed, use mobile phones, or refuse to wear a seatbelt, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has signalled.

Mr Varadkar said the points system needed revising ahead of an all-island traffic offence regime being introduced in 2014.

Mr Varadkar said it was wrong for dangerous parking to carry a five-point penalty when not wearing a seatbelt results in two points on the driving licence.