October 13, 2012
A guide to Penalty Points in Ireland
As Ireland’s penalty points system nears its tenth anniversary, we take a look at how it has recently changed and possible extensions to the system under discussion.
Since penalty points were introduced in Ireland on 31st October, 2002, it has had a significant affect on reducing road fatalities and made Irish roads some of the safest in Europe.
The penalty point system has evolved over the years to include several additional offences in areas such as insurance, seat belt use and careless driving have been brought into the system. The points remain on a driver’s licence for three years, and anyone incurring 12 or more points in a three-year period is automatically disqualified from driving for six months. As of last June, there were 797,670 drivers in the country with points endorsed on their licences.
But what exactly are the offences that now incur penalty points – and which others might soon join them?
Recent
Changes
The most recent wave of changes to the penalty points system took effect on 3rd August last:
- Two new seat belt offences replaced existing ones applying to, respectively, drivers’ non-use of seat belts and failure to ensure that passengers under 17 years of age wear belts. Each offence incurs a penalty of two points on payment of a fine or four on a court conviction.
- Four new seat belt offences (three relating to failure to use child restraints and the fourth concerning non-use of seat belts by bus drivers) were introduced. Again, each offence incurs two points on payment or four on conviction.
- An offence concerning excessive vehicle weights was added; this incurs one point on payment or three on conviction.
Current
Situation
Currently, there are 48 offences that incur penalty points, covering a wide range of areas such as vehicle condition, compliance with signs and signals, lane discipline and more general driving behaviour. A full list of offences is available on the Road Safety Authority’s web site.
Possible Future Changes
Possible extensions and modifications of the penalty points system have also come under discussion in recent months. A review of the system, prepared by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and published in June, made a number of proposals for changes. The report is available here.
Among the report’s recommendations, in addition to those already implemented in August, were:
- Increases in penalty points for four offences – including speeding, which would increase from two points to three, and holding a mobile phone while driving, which would double from two points to four.
- Reductions in the case of three offences relating to, respectively, lack of a certificate of roadworthiness, lack of an NCT certificate and parking in a dangerous position. Each offence would be reduced from five points to three and the associated mandatory appearance in court eliminated; however, a requirement to have up-to-date road tax on the date of NCT testing would be introduced.
Additionally, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has stated that he is considering:
- Bringing the failure of a learner driver to display an “L” plate into the penalty points system.
- Imposing one penalty point on learners who drive unaccompanied (an existing but dormant provision in the 2010 Road Traffic Act); the Minister is also reportedly considering either doubling this penalty or lowering the disqualification limit for learners and novice drivers.
Additionally, the Minister has agreed with his Northern counterparts a timetable for the introduction of mutual recognition of penalty points on both sides of the Border; at present, only points incurred in a driver’s own jurisdiction are endorsed on his or her licence. According to the timetable, the legislation required should be passed in both jurisdictions by the end of 2014.
Penalty points have clearly proved successful; for instance, Assistant Garda Commissioner Gerard Phillips stated in August that “many lives have been saved” by the system, and Road Safety Authority CEO Noel Brett told an Oireachtas committee in September that penalty points were responsible for a “significant part” of the decline in road fatalities that has made Irish roads some of the safest in Europe. However, according to Mr Brett, other countries’ experience suggests that it is “exceptionally difficult” to sustain the initial success of penalty points systems. In these circumstances, it is clear that there is still plenty of work to do.`
