The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, is to be complimented on his energy and determination in seeking to reduce the carnage on our roads through the imposition of penalty points and the reform of our driver licensing system.
Few government actions receive almost universal acclamation on their introduction. But penalty points, like the banning of free plastic shopping bags and the burning of bituminous coal, fell within that category.
Mr Brennan did well to ignore pressure from the Garda Síochána to delay introduction of the scheme until a fully-computerised system became available in 2003.
The results can be seen in a lower incidence of speeding, more careful driving by motorists, and fewer deaths. Emboldened by this success, Mr Brennan is now talking about addressing the crazy situation whereby unqualified drivers can indefinitely retain their "learner" status and can even drive unaccompanied while they hold a second provisional licence. An estimated 325,000 individuals hold provisional licences in this State, amounting to about one-sixth of all drivers. The percentage of such drivers is greatly in excess of the European average.
The Minister envisages the imposition of a time-limit on taking a driving test, along with a limit on the number of provisional licences that may be held. Such changes will not happen overnight. After all, fewer than 130 examiners are currently employed by the State to screen 325,000 drivers. And the driving instructor industry needs to be properly regulated.
The penalty points system has the capacity to transform the unacceptable behaviour of many Irish motorists. The possibility of being put off the road through the loss of a licence is of far greater concern to potential offenders than a hefty fine. But the threat must be real and immediate. Because of that, a comprehensive, year-round enforcement of the new penalty points system is critical. Special action, involving random testing for drunk driving, will be required.
The sporadic, haphazard way in which the Garda administered the traffic laws in the past has contributed to the current malaise. In its election manifesto, the Coalition Government promised to establish a dedicated Traffic Corps to enforce the law but, because of changed economic circumstances, that undertaking may be delayed.
Whatever about that, the Department of Justice and the Garda have a vital role to play in ensuring the initiatives taken by Mr Brennan are fully effective.
From next January, all motorists will have to carry driving licences or face a fine. Within a few months, such fines will be replaced by the penalty points system. And seat belt offences will also count towards the loss of a licence.
Such an incremental approach is acceptable so long as it does not undermine a commitment to halve the number of road deaths within the next five years.