Delay in extension of points is criticised

The Government - in particular the Minister for Transport Mr Brennan - has been criticised for the latest delay in the extension of the motorist's penalty points system.

The criticism comes as the numbers killed on the Republic's roads rise again, following a dramatic decline after the introduction of the penalty points system last year.

The Department of Transport confirmed yesterday that penalty points for not wearing safety belts will not be introduced until August 25th next. This will be the third item of driver behaviour which may incur penalty points, following speeding, and driving without insurance.

Meanwhile, two young men aged 18 and 16 were found dead at 9 a.m. yesterday after the car in which they were travelling left the road at Gallons Cross, Redhills, Co Cavan.

A middle-aged man also lost his life when the car in which he was travelling collided with a wall near Ballinrobe, Co Mayo.

The deaths brought to 206 the number of people killed on the Republic's roads so far this year. In 2002, there were 230 deaths from the beginning of the year up to the end of July.

When the penalty points were initially brought in for speeding, on October 31st last year, it was hoped to be able to roll out a full agenda of about 60 items which would attract penalty points, by the end of this year.

However, that target, involving an average addition of four to five items each month, is not currently being met.

The situation was criticised by the Fine Gael Transport spokesman, Mr Denis Naughten. and the Labour Party spokeswoman, Ms Róisín Shortall.

Mr Naughten said the system was "collapsing due to inadequate resources".

He also criticised the on-going delay in the introduction of the penalty points computer describing it as "a full six years since the Government prioritised its introduction".

Ms Shortall said the failure to establish a dedicated traffic corps "against the background of continuing carnage on the road . . . is unforgivable".

Under the latest proposed extension of penalty points, drivers will be liable to two points for not wearing a seat belt. The driver will also be responsible for anyone under 17 years of age in the car who is not wearing a seatbelt. This can be increased to four points on conviction by a court.

Compliance with seatbelt wearing is currently running at around 20 per cent. The National Safety Council yesterday pointed out that most back seat passengers still do not wear belts.

Up to last month, 33,000 notifications of penalty points have been issued to motorists for speeding or driving without insurance.