Rise in crashes involving immigrants

TRAFFIC collisions involving foreign-registered vehicles are reaching record levels, with about 900 such accidents notified to the authorities during 2006.

Provisional estimates by the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) indicate a growing number of such accidents involve motorists from Eastern European countries such as Poland and Lithuania.

Details of accident rates involving foreign drivers came as Fine Gael transport spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell accused the Government of doing nothing to stop foreign motorists escaping punishment for road traffic offences.