Road deaths total is edgeing up again

New statistics show that the number of people killed on the Republic's roads is on the increase again.

Figures issued by the Garda show that 28 people were killed in November, up five on November 2002, which saw a dramatic drop in fatalities following the introduction of penalty points for speeding offences.

In total the number of fatalities this year is down 37 on the same period in 2002.

Only 21 fatalities were recorded last December, the lowest recorded in more than a decade. Three people have been killed this month up to Friday morning.

A spokesman for the Minister for Transport said Mr Brennan had always said it would be a battle requiring constant vigilance to keep the numbers down.

The Minister is to introduce penalty points for another two driving offences next year. These will be for careless driving and dangerous overtaking.

The Minister's spokesman said the offences had been selected because the National Roads Authority report, Road Accident Facts, had indicated that cars on the wrong side of the road were a primary cause of crashes.

The report found that many accidents occur on long straight single-carriageway roads which otherwise would be described as "good". The spokesman agreed that careless driving could cover a range of driver behaviour.

The new penalty points will not come into effect until the second quarter of next year, however, as arrangements have yet to be agreed with the Garda.