Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 1

Written Answers. - Road Traffic Offences.

Billy Timmins

Question:

110 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to introduce legislation to develop a penalty points system for driving offences as outlined in the timetable for action in the Government Strategy for Road Safety 1998 to 2002; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a traffic survey carried out by the National Roads Authority on the N11 in July 1998 found that 50 per cent of cars and 73 per cent of trucks exceed the speed limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19425/98]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

The range of measures to improve road safety proposed in the Government Strategy for Road Safety 1998-2002 includes the development of a penalty points system which would trigger disqualification from driving following repeated driving offences. As indicated in the timetable for key actions in the appendix to the strategy, legislation is not being prepared for enactment in 1999.

The strategy affirms that there is scope for considerable reduction of many vehicle speeds on Irish roads given the scale of speed limit excedances being recorded by the National Roads Authority. Measures to counter speeding have therefore been prioritised by the strategy and should contribute some 29 per cent of the total life savings targeted. These measures include the extension of the use by the gardaí of automatic speed detection devices — both fixed and mobile, greater use of traffic calming measures and the continuation of awareness campaigns by the National Safety Council on the risks of excessive and inappropriate speeding.