Over 80% of motorists favour driving school over penalty points

Eight out of 10 Irish drivers would prefer to return to driving school to avoid having penalty points added to their licence, according to a new AA survey.

The survey of almost 11,000 motorists by AA motor insurance found 46 per cent of respondents would "strongly support" the introduction of driver safety courses in Ireland with a further 34 per cent being "somewhat supportive."

In particular, older drivers favoured the change with 52 per cent of those aged between 56 and 65 in strong support along with 49 per cent of those over 65-years-old.

Younger drivers were less enthusiastic with only 37 per cent of motorists surveyed aged between 17 and 26 in strong support of the implementation of the driving courses.

Conor Faughnan, director of AA’s consumer affairs, said while the penalty points system was proven to work well, there were other measures that could be used.

“There are countries, notably the UK, where drivers are directed to take education and safety courses instead of getting penalty points. It is not a soft option - the courses are demanding and are only offered for certain categories of offence,” he said.

Mr Faughnan said as the feedback was good from the courses in the UK it would be worth considering the idea in Ireland for the safety of drivers.

A similar initiative in the UK offers motorists caught driving over the legal speed limit the chance to attend a speed safety course in their area at a cost of between £60 and £100.

This attendance allows them to avoid both penalty points and a fine though drivers are only permitted to attend one course in a three year period.

Repeat offences result in penalty points and the potential of a driver’s license being suspended.