PENALTY POINTS FOR speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, or using a phone while driving will be increased at the end of this week, just ahead of the bank holiday weekend.
The increase, which also covers not using child restraints, means that three penalty points will now be awarded for these offences, up from two.
If convicted in court, the points will increase from four to five.
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe has said that more penalty point increases are likely later this year, and stressed that they are a “preventative road safety measure”.
“As these offences are major contributory factors to road traffic collisions, increases in these areas are being introduced first”, he said.
These new measures will put road safety at the top of people’s minds and, I hope, bring about a greater culture of compliance with our life saving rules of the roads.
Friday will also see the category of Novice driver come into effect, meaning that new drivers will be required to display a N plate for two years.
They will also be subject to a lower limit for both penalty points (seven rather than 12)and alcohol.
Two people were killed on our roads over the June bank holiday weekend, while four people died during last year’s August bank holiday weekend.
Road deaths are currently up four compared with the same date last year.
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