Road fatalities drop saves State €74m

A DRAMATIC drop in the number of road fatalities following the introduction of penalty points has saved the State an estimated €74 million.

The figures emerged as frantic efforts were made yesterday to heal a rift between Garda authorities and Transport Minister Seamus Brennan after a Garda report, heavily criticising the penalty points system, was leaked to the media.

Figures released yesterday show that 57 fewer people have died since the beginning of November 2002 and the end of February this year compared to the same period the previous year.