The Road Traffic Bill, which will introduce penalty points for driving offences, is expected to go through the Dβil by the end of the year, according to the Minister of State for the Environment. Mr Bobby Molloy said the Bill had not yet been finalised and questions such as the levels of fines and possible new offences were still under consideration.
Mr Molloy was speaking to journalists at the launch of the National Safety Council's campaign aimed at young drivers, "Only the Good Die Young".
The campaign, which will feature television and radio advertisements and drink-mats, posters and flyers in clubs and pubs, is aimed at reducing road accidents over this bank holiday weekend.
Mr Molloy appealed to people to "slow down, belt up and stop drinking and driving".
"So far this year, 323 people have died on our roads which is a decrease of nine from the same time last year. However, based on year-on-year figures many more people are likely to die before the end of the year.
"The needless deaths can be prevented if all road users act more responsibly. Driving is a privilege not a right, and if drivers persist to abuse this privilege, the day will come when it will be taken away from them."
Mr Molloy was referring to the penalty points system, which will lead to the withdrawal of a driving licence when the holder has acquired 12 points. He told The Irish Times that the consultancy contract for the software for a national driver file, necessary for this system, had been awarded.
Asked about the suggestion of the Director of Public Prosecutions at the launch of his annual report last year, that a new offence of careless driving causing death be introduced, Mr Molloy said: "I can't say there's been a decision. We're looking at what the courts can do and what effect they can have."
He said the level of fines for road traffic offences was likely to be raised substantially.
The chairman of the National Safety Council, Mr Eddie Shaw, said this year, 136 people between the ages of 17 and 30 had died on the roads. Most were killed late at night in single-vehicle accidents, and speed and alcohol were considered the main contributory factors.