Irish government poised to reduce speed limits

The Irish Government, which has extended the penalty points system to include infringements of seatbelt laws from today, is also to consider overhauling speed limits.

In an interview for today’s Irish Independent, Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan said that he was in favour of changes to speed limits proposed by a recent government review group.

It is understood that under the proposals speed limits of 50 mph could be imposed on single-carriageway roads by June 2004.

On Friday, Minister Brennan announced the extension of the 10-month-old penalty points system to include seat belt offences from today.

The minister warned: “I am extending the penalty points system to seat belt offences, with effect from Monday, 25th August, 2003, and would particularly point out to motorists, if you do not use a seat belt or allow children under 17 years of age to be carried in your car without being restrained, you are liable to penalty points”.

Under the new law a driver convicted in court of a seatbelt offence will receive four penalty points, endorsed on their driving licence record, and they will be liable to a maximum fine of 800 euro for a first offence. Second offences will cost the Republic’s motorists 1,500 euro.

However, a driver who is detected committing a seat belt offence will have the option to pay a fixed charge of 60 euro within 28 days, rising to 90 euro if paid within 56 days, and incur two penalty points.

The minister said: “This extension of the penalty points system is being introduced at this very appropriate time with children returning to school after the summer holidays and in many cases being driven to school in their parents vehicles”.

However, while welcoming the extension of the penalty points system, the Irish Labour Party’s spokesperson on justice, Joe Costello criticised the failure of the government to establish a dedicated Traffic Corps to help enforce road traffic legislation.

He called on the Minister for Justice to state whether on not this commitment had now been abandoned by the government.

“The extension of the penalty points system to new offences from today is generally welcome, but this is going to place additional policing and administrative obligations on a force that is already over-stretched in many areas. Yet the administration of the penalty points system is something that could quite adequately be done by a Traffic Corps, thus freeing Gardai up for other policing duties,” said Mr Costello.

(SP)