Five penalty points for uninsured drivers with effect from this weekend

Michael Brennan

Announcing the measure yesterday, Transport Minister Seamus Brennan said law-abiding drivers should not have to pay for the “reckless crime” of others: “The cost to the insurance industry of meeting claims arising from accidents involving uninsured drivers is now running at €50 million a year. Ultimately it is the compliant drivers that are meeting this massive cost through their insurance premiums.”

The Department of Transport estimates that 5% of drivers are uninsured, or 80,000 in total. Although uninsured drivers already receive a criminal conviction, they will now move closer to accumulating 12 penalty points and losing their licence for six months.

The enforcement of the latest order will begin on Sunday as part of a road safety campaign over the June Bank Holiday weekend. Under Operation Taisteal, thousands of gardaí are manning extra check points to cut speeding and drink driving.

Since the penalty points system was introduced last November, 23,000 drivers have been cautioned and road deaths have fallen by 22% to 180, a drop of 51 on the same period last year. The number of serious injuries has also fallen by almost 400, from 2,957 to 2,563.

However, according to the Garda Traffic Bureau, the number of penalty points issued has risen by 69% in Mayo, 67% in Clare and 56% in Kerry in the last month. In July, the penalty points system will be expanded to punish those not wearing seat belts. Motorists without seat belts will be given two points. If they have a passenger under 17 without a seat belt, they will also receive two points.

Drivers are not responsible for passengers over 17 and will not receive penalty points, if they do not wear seat belts. If drivers lose an appeal against the seat belt penalty they will receive four points on their licence. This offence was due to be implemented on July 1 but is now likely to be introduced towards the end of the month due to the need for negotiations with garda management.

Penalty points for speeding will require gardaí to fill out more forms, unlike the penalty points for uninsured drivers, which are awarded by the courts.