The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is urging the introduction of emergency laws to double the penalty points for certain driving offences. According to documents seen by the Irish Times, the RSA wants the penalty points for speeding and using a mobile phone while driving to be increased from 3 points to 6.
The road safety watchdog believes that harsher penalties should be accompanied by targeted enforcement and awareness campaigns to effectively reduce road accidents. So far this year, 80 people have died in road crashes, which is six more than the same period last year.
Leo Leighio from the Irish Road Victims Association supports the immediate increase in penalty points. “We have been screaming for this for the last couple of years now and it needs to be brought in straight away. It’s just gone crazy out there. People are dying on the roads. 80 families, over 80 families, have lost loved ones already this year. If you don’t want to get the penalty points, stick to the speed limit. There’s no such thing as a minor breach. Every kilometre over the speed limit is more likely to cause more serious injury,” Leighio emphasized.