7% fewer penalty points handed out

The number of motorists who obtained penalty points for road traffic offences fell by more than 7% last year amid fears that a reduction in the size of the Garda Traffic Corps has impacted on enforcement levels.

According to the Road Safety Authority, a total of 239,071 penalty point offences were detected last year — down almost 18,500 on 2011 figures or 7.2%.

RSA chief executive Noel Brett said any reduction in the issuing of penalty points would need to be examined and there would be a concern if enforcement levels were not being maintained.

However, he stressed that there were a number of factors which could impact on the falling number of penalty points detected in 2012, including lower traffic volumes due to the economic downturn and a marked improvement in drivers’ behaviour.

Mr Brett acknowledged that it was a difficult time for gardaí, like all public bodies, in terms of resources due to the jobs embargo in the public sector.

However, he expressed hope that through the use of “intelligence-led” policing that gardaí would sustain high levels of visibility of enforcement.

“The introduction of penalty points in 2002 was one of the most significant interventions in road safety strategy and has contributed to a marked change in the behaviour of road users,” said Mr Brett.

He also pointed out that Transport Minister Leo Varadkar was bringing in new road traffic legislation which would see an increase in the number of penalty points issued for the most dangerous types of offences, including speeding, not wearing seatbelts, and using a mobile phone when driving.

The RSA head warned an Oireachtas committee last year that road fatalities would increase to over 250 deaths per annum from their record low levels in 2011 and 2012 unless there was a major “reinvigoration” of the penalty points scheme and Garda enforcement levels were maintained and improved.

However, the strength of the Garda Traffic Corps has declined from a peak of 1,200 to its current level of about 850 officers.

In September, Mr Brett said there was a risk that both public and political complacency could threaten the major reduction in fatalities achieved since the points system was first introduced 10 years ago.

The total number of people who died so far on Irish road this year is 51 — an increase of 13 on the corresponding period in 2012.

Last week, Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said gardaí were very conscious of reduced human and financial resources but he insisted traffic enforcement levels had remained “at an appropriate level”.

Figures on penalty points issued in 2012 show that speeding offences accounted for more than three-quarters of the total, with 184,015 motorists caught breaking the speed limit last year — a 7.6% reduction.

Among the other main penalty point offences detected in 2012 were:

* Driving while holding a mobile phone: 25,640 — down 5.1%

* Driving without reasonable consideration: 3,757 — down 0.7%

* Failing to obey traffic lights: 4,659 — down 9%

* No insurance: 2,606 — down 4.7%

* No safety belt (driver): 5,691 — 31%

* Using vehicle without NCT certificate: 1,987 — down 6.8%.

The figures also show that 568 people benefited last year from the new rule which came into force in Nov 2011 which does not disqualify motorists caught driving slightly over the legal drink limit.