AN INCREASE in penalty points for speeding and using a mobile phone while driving are proposed in a report by the Department of Transport published yesterday.
Penalty points for using a mobile phone while driving are proposed to go from two to four, while points for speeding are suggested to go from two to three.
The penalties for failing to obey traffic lights and dangerous overtaking are proposed to rise from two to three.
Higher penalty points are also suggested for failure to comply with front seatbelt requirements, which are proposed to rise from two to six.
The report, published by Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar, also recommends the introduction of additional offences including two penalty points for using a motorbike without a helmet.
It proposes new powers too for gardaí to impound and sell uninsured cars, in addition to reducing the severity of some offences. It also suggests vehicles without an NCT certificate will be subjected to three penalty points instead of five and a compulsory court appearance.
Any changes will be incorporated into the Road Traffic Bill 2012, which is due for publication later this year.
The report compares Ireland with 10 other jurisdictions including Austria, England and Australia.
It also refers to introducing mutual recognition of penalty points between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Under proposals in the report, driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drugs could incur a penalty of 10 points.
According to a survey by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) 22 per cent of 17- to 24-year-olds have been passengers in cars driven by someone under the influence of drugs. RSA chief executive Noel Brett welcomed the proposals, saying that speed, drug driving and not wearing seatbelts remain major concerns.
Mr Brett also said the increasing number of fatal road collisions was “very, very concerning,” and it appeared drivers were “letting their guard down”.
Speaking at the publication of four new Learning to Drive manuals, he said while the number of fatalities on the roads this year (75) was almost identical to this time last year (76), the number of actual collisions was up.
There had been 75 deaths in 73 collisions so far this year, compared with 76 deaths and 68 collisions in the same period last year.