The Government has introduced more penalty points offences for 2014 as well as increasing the severity of existing ones.
Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has said that the introduction of the penalty points system has helped reduce road deaths and the Government has decided to increase the number of offences from next year.
The Road Traffic (No 2) Bill includes penalty points for illegal U-turns, failure to display learner or novice plates, passing “no entry” signs, and learner drivers caught driving unaccompanied.
Current offences such as speeding, mobile phone use, and non-wearing of seatbelt which currently incur two penalty points will be increased to result in three points on payment of a fixed charge, while the penalty points upon conviction will generally go from four to five.
The legislation will allow gardaí to ask motorists suspected of drink or drug driving to walk in a straight line with the results being admissible as evidence.
Last year a record low of 161 people lost their lives on Irish roads and it is hoped these measures will help in part to reduce this number even more.
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