Double points for driving offences this Easter
Drivers on Ireland’s road this Easter and St Patrick’s Day may face double penalty points for driving offences.
The transport minister Noel Dempsey is reported to be considering a move to double driving conviction points on all bank holiday weekends.
It is thought the scheme was proposed by government chief whip Tom Kitt, whereby drivers would receive twice the points for speeding and drink-driving offences and one extra point for other misdemeanours.
“A double penalty points regime would apply over eight bank holiday weekends per year and would act as a recurring reminder to motorists of the dangers of speeding on our roads,” Mr Kitt told the Irish Times.
The system would echo one already in place in New South Wales in Australia, which has been said to reduce the number of fatalities on the road.
Ireland consistently has problems with car crashes around bank holidays, despite regular check points and breath testing.
According to the newspaper, last year over the St Patrick’s holiday period 1,990 drivers were caught speeding and 481 drink-driving.
Yannick Read, a spokesperson for the ETA, said: “Tough penalties for dangerous drivers are welcome, but they need to be consistent. If a doubling of penalty points can be shown to reduce serious crashes, there’s an argument that it should a permanent measure.”
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