Penalty points cut road deaths by 20%

THERE has been almost a 20% reduction in the number of road deaths since penalty points were introduced last November, Transport Minister Séamus Brennan said yesterday.

There are 63 fewer people dead between November 2002 and August 2003 compared to the same period the previous year.

Mr Brennan announced that 46,177 drivers had received penalty points since the system began. He called on the insurance industry to play its part in improving road safety and cut premiums.