RSA Welcomes Stricter Penalties for Serious Road Traffic Offences
Tuesday 3rd April 2007 - The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has welcomed the increase in penalties for a range of serious road traffic offences brought into effect by the Minister for Transport, Mr. Martin Cullen recently.
"This life saving legislation introduces tougher penalties for killer behaviour such as drink driving and dangerous driving. Combined with unprecedented levels of Garda enforcement it now means that drivers know they have a very good chance of getting caught if they break the law and that they also risk a hefty fine in addition to the loss of their driving licence for a lengthy period when prosecuted," stated Noel Brett, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority.
This is particularly the case for alcohol related offences" he added, "The Gardai are now conducting 30,000 breath tests per month. This means there is now a strong chance that you will be caught if you drink and drive and from this month you also risk losing your licence for a minimum period of one year”.
"We know that the public want these measures and this is backed up by our own research which shows that 77% of people in this country said they wanted to see more severe penalties for drink driving and other serious road traffic offences" said Mr Brett.
The specific changes in relation to disqualifications following conviction in court:
- For drink driving offences the disqualification periods will range from 1 to 6 years depending on the level of alcohol detected, and whether it is a first or subsequent offence. This compares with the current range of 3 months to 4 years
- The offence of refusing to provide a sample of blood, urine or breath for evidential purposes will attract an automatic disqualification of 4 years for a first offence and 6 years for a second or subsequent offence. This currently stands at 2 and 4 years respectively
- Disqualification for insurance offences and dangerous driving, tried summarily, are being doubled from 1 to 2 years for a first offence, and 2 to 4 years for subsequent offences
- Disqualification will now apply to all first time convictions for dangerous driving, tried summarily
- The minimum disqualification for so-called "hit and run" offences and dangerous driving will increase to 4 years for a first offence (from 2 years currently) for those tried on indictment. And it will increase to 6 years from 4 years for a subsequent offence
- A person who uses a vehicle without an NCT certificate while he or she is disqualified from driving will receive a disqualification of at least 1 year
- An offence, newly created in the Railway Safety Act 2006, of striking a bridge which leads to death or serious injury will result in a disqualification of at least 4 years for a first offence and 6 years for a second or subsequent offence
"The whole process for applying to have a licence restored following a disqualification has also been changed,” said Mr. Brett. "No longer will disqualified drivers be able to get their licences back as quickly as before"
In the first instance, only those who have not been disqualified in the preceding 10 years can apply for a reduction in their disqualification period. Furthermore, only those who have been disqualified for 2 years or more will be allowed to apply for the removal of a disqualification. Those with shorter disqualifications will have to serve them in full.
There have been fewer road deaths and serious injuries recorded since the introduction of Mandatory Alcohol Testing. According to the statistics, there have been 61 fewer deaths and approximately 600 fewer serious injuries in the nine-month period since the introduction of Mandatory Alcohol Testing in 2006 compared to the previous nine-month period.
To date in 2007 there have been 10 fewer fatalities on Ireland’s roads compared to the same period in 2006.
However, the RSA suggests that the recent number of road deaths should act as a clear reminder to us all not to become complacent, that we should drive safely and obey the rules of the road at all times.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Road Safety Authority on Locall 1890 50 60 80
Editors Note:
Summary offences - these are offences for which there is no right of trial by judge and jury. This makes up the bulk of the criminal work of the District Court, these offences are exclusively statutory in origin.
Indictable offences tried summarily - with the consent of the accused and the DPP and the judge being of the opinion that the facts constitute a minor offence.
Indictable offences - other than certain offences (including rape, aggravated sexual assault, murder, treason and piracy) where the accused pleads guilty and the DPP consents and the judge accepts the guilty plea. Otherwise, the accused is sent forward to the Circuit Court on his signed plea of guilty for sentencing - a Book of Evidence is served on the accused - trial buy Judge and Jury.
