System will help cut roads 'slaughter'

THE new penalty points system will bring down the unacceptable level of death and serious injury on Irish roads, according to Transport Minister, Séamus Brennan.

From tomorrow all motorists run the risk of clocking up penalty points on their licence and increased fines if caught speeding.

An extra 60 traffic offences, such as breaking red lights and failing to wear a seat belt, will also carry penalty points when the full system is rolled out next year. Drivers will also be required to carry their driving licences in their vehicles at all times from January 2003 onwards to strengthen the enforcement of the points system.

Mr Brennan said his main focus was to cut down the "slaughter" on the roads which had been continuing despite numerous road safety campaigns.

"The simple fact is that speed kills and maims a great many people every year. It must be curtailed if we are to make the roads safer for all drivers," he said.

Last year, more than 345,000 on-the-spot fines were issued by gardaí to speeding drivers.

Under the penalty points system:

l A driver caught speeding will have to pay a 80 fine and have two penalty points recorded on their licence.

l If the driver opts to go to court and is found guilty, they will incur a fine of up to 800 and four penalty points

l A driver's record will be wiped clean after three years.

Mr Brennan said he expected insurance companies would take account of penalty points and there would be consultation with the industry on how this would be done.

The Insurance Industry Federation said members are free to calculate drivers' premiums based on the amount of penalty points they incur.

However, Mr Brennan said he hoped benefits would be passed onto non-offending drivers.

While speeding is the first area to come under the penalty points system, it could take up to a year before the other road traffic offences are included. This is due to a long-running dispute over a computer system which will handle the processing of penalty points.

Mr Brennan said he was confident the points system would bring about significant changes in driving culture, as it has done in other European countries.

"The ultimate goal is to bring about a radical change in driver behaviour by making them all slow down and pay closer attention to adhering to all speed limits," he said.

One of the more controversial elements in the penalty points legislation centres on the banning of mobile phones. Mr Brennan said additional primary legislation would be needed for this and officials were already seeking legal advice on the area.