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Penalty Points Hailed a life saving success

Drivers are getting the point! - Penalty Points hailed a life saving success

In the 12 month period since the introduction of the penalty points system on 1st November 2002 road deaths have reduced by 19%, serious injuries by 21% and an estimated €155 million has been saved, it was announced by the National Safety Council (NSC) today Saturday 1st November 2003.

"There have been 76 less road deaths recorded in the 12 month period since the introduction of penalty points (333) compared to the same 12 month period in the previous year (409). This represents a 19% drop in road deaths. We estimate that as many as 342* serious injuries may also have been prevented over the same period. This represents a 21% drop in serious injuries."

Says Mr. Pat Costello, Chief Executive, National Safety Council.

"The National Roads Authority estimated that the costs of a fatal collision and a serious injury in 2001 were €1,297,000 and €161,000 respectively. Therefore 76 road fatalities and 342 serious injuries prevented may have resulted in a financial saving of over €155 million. All road users especially drivers share in this remarkable achievement because it's their change in behaviour which has prevented these deaths and serious injuries." He said.

However Mr. Costello added that,

"Despite these gains we are still paying an unacceptable toll in lost lives and suffering on our roads. So I would urge drivers to keep up the good behaviour, slow down, never ever drink and drive and wear seatbelts front and rear."

Mr. Costello highlighted that a major effort would be required by road users and all authorities involved in road safety to match the dramatic reductions in road deaths achieved in November and December last year when 23 and 21 people died on our roads. The reductions represented an almost halving of the number of road deaths that occurred on average during these months.

Three offences are currently enforced out of a total of 69 penalty point offences in the Road Traffic Act 2002. The Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan TD, introduced penalty points for speeding offences on Thursday 31st October 2002 as part of a major road safety initiative to instil greater caution in drivers and to address the unacceptable level of death and serious injury on Irish roads.

Since the introduction two more offences have been added to the list of Penalty Point currently enforced. On 1st June 2003 drivers convicted of driving without insurance will incur 5 penalty points on their licence record in addition to the fine imposed by the court. On 25th August 2003 penalty points for seat belt offences were introduced.

To date 57,454 drivers have received notification of penalty points. If 12 points accumulate on a licence record at any time within 3 years, a notice will issue informing the licence holder that they have been disqualified from driving for 6 months and that they must surrender their licence at their local Motor Taxation Office. The full penalty points system is expected to be in operation by the middle of 2004 and will be applied in respect of a wide range of offences, the commission of which have a potentially negative impact on road safety. These include red light running, poor lane discipline, noncompliance with stop and yield signs and a number of offences relating to vehicle safety and driver licensing.

Further information on the Penalty Points system can be found at www.penaltypoints.ie

Table 1. Analysis of Road Fatalities in the 12 months since introduction of Penalty Points on 1st November 2002 compared to the previous 12 month period

Year	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
2001	40	37
2002	23	21	35	33	34	32	20	34	42	35	36	31
2003			20	21	33	25	38	37	33	28	20	34
Difference	- 17	- 16	- 15	- 12	- 1	- 7	+18	+3	-9	-7	-16	+3

 

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