The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, yesterday issued a warning to parents to ensure their children are restrained with seat belts when they are travelling in cars.
Announcing figures for the number of penalty points issued since the scheme was introduced in November, the Minister said that on July 31st the penalty points system would be extended to include the non-wearing of seat belts.
Failure to wear a seat belt was one of the main causes of deaths and serious injury on our roads, he said.
"I would particularly point out to parents that if while driving they allow young children to be carried without being restrained, then they are liable to penalty points. I find it astonishing that many parents will still not ensure that their children are restrained when being carried in cars," the Minister said.
More than 34,000 penalty points notifications have been issued since the system was introduced last November for speeding and driving without insurance. In the eight months since November 1st, a total of 33,283 drivers received penalty points notifications - 32,500 have two penalty points, 751 have four, 29 have six and three drivers have accumulated eight points.
Under the system, drivers who accumulate 12 points are automatically disqualified from driving for six months.
The Minister said drivers should be in no doubt that they would get penalty points. Disqualification for six months was coming closer for those who persistently offended. Road deaths between November 1st, 2002 and June 30th, 2003 were down 46 on the same period in the preceding 12 months.