[Article] Penalty points further delayed

Victor

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/1104921?view=Eircomnet

Opposition condemns penalty point delay
From:ireland.com
Monday, 28th July, 2003

Opposition parties have criticised the Government over a further delay in bringing in penalty points for drivers who fail to wear seatbelts.

It has emerged the penalty points will not apply for this offence until late August. The points were to have been introduced at the beginning of July but was delayed to the end of this month.

Fine Gael spokesman on transport Mr Denis Naughten said the penalty points system was "collapsing" due to inadequate resources and a lack of commitment on the part of the Government.

"We are now being told that it will be a further 12 months before the computerised system is in place, a full six years since the Government prioritised its introduction," he said.

"How many more lives have to be lost on Irish roads before this Government wakes up to the reality - that without the adequate funding the penalty points system will collapse into a farce."

Labour's spokeswoman on transport, Ms Róisín Shortall, criticised the failure of the Government to establish a Traffic Corps to reduce road deaths in line with its commitment in the programme for government and said it was "a matter of life and death".

She said that against the background of "continuing carnage" on the roads, the failure of the Government to give the commitment the priority it deserves is "unforgivable".

"For the penalty points system to work, there has to be a real fear among drivers that those who persistently break the law will be detected and ultimately will lose their right to drive. This requires a high visible level of policing that the gardaí are simply not able to provide, given the other demands on their services".

Ms Shortall called on the Government to publish the recent Review of Road Safety Strategy, which she said suggested detection levels for driving offences here are "way below the European norms".

The total number of people killed on the roads so far in 2003 is 204 as of this morning, according to the Garda.

Three men died overnight in separate car crashes in Co Cavan and Co Mayo.

sci0x

Yeah, The introduction was delayed because of problems printing tickets which include provision for an on-the-spot fine and the imposition of penalty points.

Victor

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/1260887?view=Eircomnet

Penalty points for seatbelt offences from today
From:ireland.com
Monday, 25th August, 2003

Motorists will be liable for penalty points for seatbelt offences from today, following the latest extension of the penalty points system.

Under the extended legislation, which took effect from midnight, drivers will be liable for a maximum of four penalty points if they do not wear their seatbelt or if they allow a person under 17 to travel unrestrained in a vehicle.

This will also apply in the case of children under four who are not suitably restrained.

"You should always wear a seatbelt, even on short journeys," said a Garda spokesman last night. "The law is crystal-clear that you have to wear seatbelts, and you are foolish if you do not.

"We regularly remind people with our road safety operations that they should not drink and drive, not to speed, and to always wear a seatbelt, " he said.

"This is something we have been fairly strict about for quite a few years now.

"While drivers will not be responsible for the compliance of a passenger aged 17 years or older, the present on-the-spot fine of €25 or prosecution in court will continue to apply to any passenger aged 17 or over who does not wear a safety belt while being driven in a vehicle in a public place."

The extension of the penalty points system is being timed to coincide with the return of children to school after the summer holidays.

According to the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, it is a time when many children will be driven to school in their parents' vehicles.

Under the new rules, offenders who accept a fixed charge of €60 (up from €25) when stopped by gardaí will have two penalty points imposed on their licence.

If they decide to contest the matter in court, they face a maximum fine of €800 and four penalty points on conviction.

Motorists accumulating 12 penalty points on their driving-licence record within three years face a six-month disqualification.

The move to include seatbelt offences in the penalty-points system is part of a wider plan to introduce other offences deemed likely to have a negative impact on road safety.

A total of 69 offences, including running of a red light, non-compliance with Stop and Yield signs and offences relating to vehicle safety and driver licensing, will eventually be covered.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport confirmed yesterday that the Minister has set a date of mid-2004 for the system to be fully operational.

A survey of seatbelt-wearing carried out by the National Roads Authority (NRA) in 2002 showed that the overall wearing rates of drivers and front passengers had increased.

"While it is encouraging, the wearing rate is well below the level at which we would see significant road safety benefits," the Minister said.

"The wearing rate for rear seat passengers, estimated at no more than 20 per cent, was a source of particular concern, especially as children are generally carried in rear seats."

Victor

http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=3943&lang=ENG&loc=1345