Delays erode confidence in campaign

THERE are ominous signs that the penalty points campaign, which has had such a dramatic effect on reducing carnage on the roads, is becoming bogged down after less than a year in operation.

Today's revelation that a backlog of 20,000 speeding detections is currently clogging the garda pipeline will erode confidence in a process which overnight brought about a sea change in the behaviour of drivers.

But despite reducing the numbers of road deaths, serious injury and accidents, the campaign is being held up by computer delays and legal snags have also arisen in its operation.