A new penalty points system came into operation in Northern Ireland yesterday which could lead to motorists being disqualified if they commit as few as two traffic offences.
Drivers can be disqualified for up to two years if they accumulate 12 points for endorsable offences over a three-year period. Anyone caught disobeying a traffic sign will receive three penalty points. Those found speeding could collect between three and six points.
The development brings Northern Ireland into line with Britain where the system has been in operation for nine years. Supt Roly Laird of the RUC Traffic Branch said it would not be possible to gauge the initial impact of penalty points for at least several weeks.
"In a month we will have some feel for genuine trends and reaction from the motoring public. It will take about six months before a true picture emerges," he said.
"There are no instant solutions to road safety. Because it is such a complex problem, it is difficult even to pinpoint the contribution that one particular action will make."
However, some drivers from nationalist areas have expressed concern that they could be targeted for particular attention by the RUC.
Sinn Fein called for a watchdog body to monitor the new system. The party's Northern chairman, Mr Gearoid O hEara, said: "While welcoming any measures which would cut down on the carnage on our roads I must express reservations about how it will be applied.
"We do not live in a society with an impartial police service, and this system is open to abuse by a police force with a political agenda. We need an independent watchdog drawn from civil liberty organisations to monitor the application of this system to ensure that the RUC do not use it as another weapon against one section of society."