Call to enforce penalty points

THE Government should concentrate on ensuring the penalty-point regime is enforced rather than “floating hot air” about more stringent sanctions, the opposition has said.

On Tuesday, Government chief whip Tom Kitt proposed doubling the amount of penalty points issued for high-risk offences such as speeding and drink driving on bank holiday weekends.

Mr Kitt based his proposal, which is being considered by Transport Minister Noel Dempsey, on a similar scheme in New South Wales, which has witnessed a significant reduction in road deaths over holiday periods.