[Article] Penalty points software 'to be operational next year'

Victor

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2003/12/18/story126185.html

Penalty points software ‘to be operational next year’
18/12/2003 - 7:51:59 am

The computer software needed to operate an expanded penalty points system is expected to be fully installed by early next year, according to reports this morning.

The reports say the €7.4m system is likely to be in place and operational by the time Transport Minister Seamus Brennan adds new offences to the penalty points scheme.

Mr Brennan is planning to expand the scheme to cover the offences of careless driving and dangerous overtaking before March.

Once the computer system is up and running, it should speed up the process of adding points to the licences of motorists caught breaching the rules of the road.

Victor

http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=4527&lang=ENG&loc=1345

Minister Says Drivers With Penalty Points Risk Losing Licence In 2004
16 December 2003
OVER 1,000 DRIVERS GET FIRST POINTS FOR NON-WEARING OF SEAT BELT OFFENCES

The Minister for Transport, Séamus Brennan T.D., said today (Tuesday, 16th December 2003) drivers accumulating penalty points run the increasing risk of losing their driving licences in 2004, particularly when the system is significantly expanded to include a number of other serious road traffic offences.

Minister Brennan said it was his intention, following discussions with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Gardai, to extend the penalty points system in the first months of 2004 to include the offences of careless driving and dangerous overtaking. Further road traffic offences will be added when the points system becomes fully computerised in the second half of 2004.

The Minister today released statistics for the first thirteen months of the points road safety initiative, showing that over 82,000 drivers have received penalty points on their driving licences. The statistics cover the period 1st November 2002 up to 1st December 2003. During that period there was a reduction of 70 in the number of road deaths, 362 compared to 432 for the corresponding period in the previous thirteen months.

The latest statistics record for the first time the number of drivers who received penalty points for the non-wearing of seat belts, an offence added to the points system on 25th August 2003. The figures show that some 1,128 penalty point notices have issued to drivers found to be driving without wearing a seat belt.

Another 81 notices have issued to drivers found to be carrying passengers under age 17 who were not wearing a seat belt. Of those, 37 notices related to offences for the non-wearing of seat belts by front seat passengers and 44 related to the non-wearing of seat belts by passengers in the back seats.

Minister Brennan said: "I am disappointed and shocked by the number of drivers who fail to use or who do not insist on their passengers, particularly children, using a seat belt. The non-wearing of seat belts is a major factor in fatal road crashes and, as we have seen so graphically in National Safety Council television adverts, the deaths and injuries can be caused by rear seat passengers who are not wearing seat belts."

A breakdown of the notifications to drivers of penalty points on their driving licences for speeding offences shows that:

82,057 drivers have received penalty points notices
77,937 drivers have received 2 points
3,801 drivers have incurred 4 points, including 104 convicted in court
282 have 6 points
33 are now on 8 points
4 drivers have 10 points - 2 points short of automatic disqualification
Minister Brennan said: "As the statistics clearly show, automatic disqualification for 6 months is close to becoming a reality for drivers who are persistently committing road traffic offences. There are now over 300 drivers on 6 points or more and the numbers moving closer to disqualification is increasing each month".

The Minister added: "It is encouraging that the number of road deaths since the introduction of penalty points is 70 fewer compared with the same period in the previous year. While there has been a welcome change in driver behaviour, particularly as regards speeding, we cannot afford to become in any way complacent. There is the danger that we can slip back into old, careless and dangerous habits unless all those involved, Gardai, the Government, insurance companies and motorists, keep up there full level of commitment."

The Minister said that for the first time ever, Gardai now have power to breathalyse drivers whom they find to have committed a road traffic offence or who have been involved in a collision. These extended powers are part of a determined effort to combat the abuse of drink driving. The Minister will be extending their powers further during 2004 when he will introduce full random breath testing.

an_taoiseach

I presume its based on Microsoft products

Are all points reported to Redmond .............. ( No! not George )

Do M/S get a royalty for every point logged ?:p

Does it boast the usual M/S security features aaahh hhaaaaa