Motorists avoiding seat belt penalty points

NO driver has received penalty points for not wearing seat belts, more than two months after garda powers were extended beyond speeding offences, figures to be released this week will reveal.

The Department of Transport is still compiling the latest penalty point figures but a spokeswoman has confirmed that there is no record of anyone receiving two points for not wearing a seat belt or for allowing a minor to be carried in a vehicle unrestrained.

Anecdotal evidence gathered from garda and transport sources suggest members have taken a 'softly-softly' approach and issued warnings to drivers rather than notifications following the extension of penalty points at the end of August.