Road Traffic Offences.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004

Tuesday, 23 March 2004

Ceisteanna (484)

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

481 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department will take measures to speed up the processing of notices by the gardaí in relation to speeding offences, currently operated on a manual basis, to ensure that motorists observed breaking the speed limit be sent an initial notification within two weeks of the offence being committed to encourage them to observe the speed limit during the months that elapse between the offence being committed and the issuing of penalty points. [8511/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The Deputy will appreciate that this system is currently operating on a semi-manual basis. This will be rectified later this year when the fixed charge processing system, which provides for the computerisation of the Garda element of penalty points processing, becomes operational. The Deputy will agree that the benefits of the considerable advances in road safety achieved in the period since the introduction of penalty points outweigh the regrettable delays resulting from the operation of the interim manual system.

On the matter of a notice encouraging motorists to adhere to speeding legislation, I am sure that the Deputy will agree that in order for progress to continue in reducing the number of fatalities on our roads all road users including pedestrians, must take responsibility for their own actions. It is imperative that all drivers adhere to the speed restrictions and all other road traffic legislation in place on our roads at all times and not just during the months that elapse between an offence being committed and the issuing of penalty points.