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Double points plan for holiday driving offences IRELAND’S
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey is considering a proposal to double the
penalty points issued for speeding and drink-driving offences committed
on Bank Holiday weekends.
Instead of getting just two points for speeding motorists would get four
and instead of three points for drink-driving they would get six.
The proposal is based on the double demerit scheme in the Australian state
of New South Wales.
Double demerit points apply for speeding, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet
offences committed in the state during holiday periods such as long weekends,
Christmas, New Year and Easter.
Government chief whip Tom Kitt is proposing a similar scheme be introduced
in Ireland on Bank Holiday weekends in order to reduce the number of road
deaths.
Mr Kitt wants penalty points doubled for speeding and drink driving over
each Bank Holiday period while an extra penalty point would be added on
to all other offences.
But the fines for all penalty point offences would remain the same under
the proposal.
“The policy has dramatically reduced fatalities on Australian roads,”
said Mr Kitt.
“Although our penalty points system has contributed significantly
to the reduction of deaths and injuries Bank Holidays are high-risk periods
due to the increased volume of traffic on the roads and the tendency to
drink and drive.”
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has agreed to consider the proposal. |
