Penalty points reduce road deaths by 20%

THE fatal road accident rate fell by 20% since the introduction of penalty points for speeding drivers 12 months ago.

The Department of Transport revealed yesterday that more than 66,700 drivers had incurred penalty points on their licences.

Also, Transport Minister Seamus Brennan is considering compulsory practice training for motorcyclists, the only category in which there was no significant change in the number of fatalities and serious injuries.