Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2004
352 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the penalty points system; the range of offences for which penalty points are imposed; the level of implementation of the scheme; if he has satisfied himself that it is being implemented effectively; if it is proposed to coalesce the penalty points systems in the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14238/04]
View answer353 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Transport the number of penalty points one receives if they do not carry their driving licence; the number of points allocated under this heading to date; his views on whether such an offence necessitates such a penalty; the plans he has to amend the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14313/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together.
Penalty points are being applied to the driving licence records of those convicted of speeding, seat belt wearing and insurance offences, and to those who pay a fixed charge to the Garda in the case of speeding and seat belt wearing offences to prevent the instigation of court proceedings. The offence of not carrying or producing a driving licence does not attract penalty points. The full application of the penalty points system will be achieved when the relevant IT systems being developed by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda are completed.
Some 18 months have passed since the penalty points system was introduced in October 2002. At 29 April 2004, over 144,000 drivers had received penalty points, including one driver who had reached the 12-point threshold which leads to automatic disqualification. I intend to introduce penalty points for careless driving with effect from 1 June 2004. This measure should have a further positive influence on the driving behaviour of those who have little regard for road traffic law. The effectiveness of the penalty points system can be judged primarily on the basis of the contribution it has made to road safety since its introduction. In the 18 months since October 2002 the number of deaths as a result of road collisions has fallen by 114 by comparison to the previous 18-month period.
Penalty point systems are now operating in this country, Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The authorities in all three jurisdictions are actively considering the issue of the introduction of a scheme to provide for the mutual recognition of penalty points between the UK and Ireland. This consideration is being pursued under the auspices of the British-Irish Council. One of the first matters that will need to be addressed before full mutual recognition can be realised will be the introduction of bilateral recognition of the separate systems operating in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
