Computers to accelerate penalty points processing

Full computerisation of the penalty points system for drivers will be implemented this autumn, according to the Department of Transport.

The computerised system will dramatically speed processing of penalty points, and will also herald the introduction of penalty points for a large number of additional driving offences.

Currently four offences carry penalty points. They are speeding, which carries four points, but which may be reduced to two on early payment of a fine; not wearing seat belts, two points; not having insurance, five points; and careless driving, five points.

The number of offences which will attract penalty points will increase from four to more than 60 when the system is computerised. A Department spokeswoman said the full roll out of the points system would begin on the launch of computerisation.

She was commenting as the Department revealed that three drivers had now lost their licences since the introduction of penalty points on October 31st, 2002. The drivers were in the Carlow, Cork and north Tipperary licensing areas.

The figures show that 153,012 penalty point notices have been issued, of which 22,439 were not applied for reasons such as the driver not having a licence, being untruthful or residing outside the State. Some 139,437 drivers had two points on June 31st this year, 12,023 had four points; 1,258 had six points and 185 had eight points. There are 35 people on 10 points.

The figures relate to the period from October 2002 to the end of June last.

Commenting on the figures, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, said it was clear the majority of drivers with points were remaining at the lower end of the scale which proved that the system was a deterrent to bad driver behaviour.

There were 569 people killed on the roads in the 20 months after the introduction of penalty points, he said. This compared with 675 people who were killed in the 20 months preceding the introduction of penalty points.

Mr Brennan confirmed he had asked the Medical Bureau of Road Safety to carry out an analysis of single-vehicle accidents including blood alcohol and drug tests at post-mortems. The accidents are to be analysed by time, driver age, location and weather.

The Minister said he was concerned that 76 people had died in single-vehicle accidents s from January to June of this year. This compared to 64 for the corresponding period last year.

Mr Brennan said he was appealing particularly to drivers to take more care this month. Last August the monthly death toll was 26, the lowest since 1999, when it was 42.