Points going up today for range of motoring offences

Breaking the lights, dangerous overtaking, and failure to stop at a stop sign will all get you increased penalty points on your licence from today.

In addition, points are being introduced for learner drivers driving unaccompanied or failing to display an L Plate, and failure by novice drivers to display an N plate.

For contravening a ban on U-turns, there will also be points, and for proceeding beyond “no entry to vehicles” sgns, motorists can also, now, expect points.

In some cases, the points are going up just in respect of fixed charge penalties – but there are also offences for which the penalties are being increased for those who fail to pay the fixed charge, and instead wind up in court.

In total, penalty points are being increased for 9 offences, and a further 14 are attracting points for the first time.

In addition, 2 offences which previously involved a court appearance have now been brought within the fixed charge notice and penalty points system, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, has announced. 

The minister recalled that the penalty points system was first introduced in 2002, and said it deliberately focuses on offences which can have a direct impact on road safety.

“The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport carried out a review of the penalty points system in 2012 and the adjustments being brought into force today result from this review.  They were given legal effect in the Road Traffic Act 2014,” he said.

“Since the penalty points system began, there has been a dramatic fall in the numbers dying needlessly on our roads.  However, 2013 showed the first increase in road fatalities for many years, and, unfortunately, we are on course for similar figures in 2014.  The penalty points system played an important role in reducing road fatalities and improving safety from 2002 on.  We need to keep up the pressure to reduce road deaths, and I am confident that the measures which I am introducing today will make an important contribution to achieving that goal.”