Carnage cut by points system

Some 40,000 motorists have received penalty points since the system come into force nine months ago, according to figures released by the Department of Transport today.

Road deaths were down from 230 to 208 in the first seven months of this year in comparison with the same period in 2002.

There is one driver on 10 points, just two points away from the unenviable distinction of being the first person to lose his or her licence in the new system. More than 38,000 people have two penalty points; just over 1,000 have four points, while 41 drivers have six points, and three have eight points.

For too long, speed and drink have been blamed as if they were the causes of all accidents, but the appalling state of some of our roads and the failure of local authorities to upgrade dangerous junctions are also contributory factors in accidents.

The horrific crash at the Ashfield junction on the road between Wexford and Rosslare over the weekend in which a baby was killed and a young child critically injured could be attributed largely to road design. The junction, which has been due for upgrading with a roundabout for some time, has been the scene of many crashes.

Local doctor Liam Twomey, an independent Dáil deputy, was on the scene. He says he attends an accident there every year, and he is just one of a half-dozen doctors in the immediate area. According to him, it is a dangerous junction at which people must bide their time and then shoot out.

In effect, they have to take a chance every time they use the junction.

Speed is still probably the greatest contributor to road deaths, but if the penalty points system continues to show the promise of earlier months, the other factor in accidents will undoubtedly be highlighted.

To work properly, however, the points system will require the co-operation of various people. Unfortunately, there are already indications that some drivers are returning to old reckless habits as they become immunised to the initial fears of incurring penalty points. The saving of 22 lives was certainly a very significant factor, but nobody knows whose lives were saved, because there is no way of telling who would have been killed in accidents that have been avoided.

It would be in everybody’s interest if some more tangible incentives could be afforded to drivers to insure the effectiveness of the penalty points system. The insurance companies, which have been raising their rates in recent years, blamed the high cost of insurance on the massive €6.5 billion paid out in compensation claims over the past five years. As a result, the insurance companies showed a cumulative loss of €200 million over the previous three years, but this was turned around in 2002.

The Irish Insurance Federation posted record profits of €180 million last year, but instead of coming down, insurance premiums actually went up by as much as 50% in some instances during 2003. The insurance companies are likely to post even bigger profits this year, and this must be passed on to motorists without further delay.