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The numbers game
Page 34
Page 35
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Ireland's penalty points are saving lives — but with new offences be ing introduced have the lawmakers gone too far? Ann Marie
Foley reports. It is just over one year since the introduction of penalty points in Ireland. Statistics show that 77 fewer lives have been lost,346 serious injuries were prevented and €155m was saved in the first year.
The financial sum is based on a calculation by the National Roads Authority that a road fatality costs €1.297m. while a serious accident costs €161,000.This includes medical facilities, loss of earnings and state support.The statistics do not separate out HGVs.
In the 13 months to 1 December 2003 more than 82,000 drivers have received penalty points.The vast majority are on just two points while four drivers have 10 points.
In October 2002, penalty points (see panel) were introduced for speeding and were later joined by points for driving without insurance (June 2003) and failing to wear scat-belts (August 2003). There are plans to introduce penalty points for a total of 69 offences. Early in 2004,careless driving and dangerou. overtaking will attract penalty points, sayt Seamus Brennan, minister for transport.Wher the system is fully computerised in the seconc half of 2004 more offences will be added.
Serious offences
While no one can quibble with penalty point! for serious offences such as speeding and no holding insurance, there are worries that 6c. is too many offences. By the time Seamy Brennan has finished his programme of point5 we will be the most regulated motorists it Europe," says Jimmy Quinn, spokesman fa the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) "Even the British don't have anywhere nea the same number. In most countries point apply only to speeding and serious motorinl offences,whereas we will be penalised on thing like failing to produce a licence."
Operators spend up to 10 times longer cm he road than the average motorist so their thances of accumulating points are higher. Dperators are worried about implementaion of the full 69 offences and as yet, in spite )f IRHA representations to the Department )f Transport, they have no idea as to whether ;ome unworkable and minor offences will le dropped. A Garda spokesperson says the orce is awaiting clarification from the Minis.er regarding the full range of penalties to be introduced in January 2004.
"A proposed offence such as a defective mirror may not be something the driver an control, yet there is a possibility that his livelihood will be affected.That is of concern to me, although I don't know to what extent such offences will be implemented," says Mattie O'Shea, director of Waterford Transport.
Penalty points will apply when a vehicle restricted to 50mph travels in the outer lane of the motorway, such as a truck passing a slower vehicle or when crossing over a continuous white line. On Ireland's narrower roads trucks simply cannot fit inside the line. The difficulty of introducing and computerising the penalty points system has led to speculation that it might be privatised.
"lf this is privatised it will be like mobile dampers, it will give private operators the law to do with it as they please.says Paddy Divers. director Killybegs Transport, Donegal.
Insurance offers Insurance is another area of concern. Hibernian was the first to announce a 10% discount for motorists with no penalty points, with a graded range for offenders. Drivers with one to six points get no discount.Those exceeding six will have their premiums loaded by 10% per penalty point. However. Hibernian is offering this scheme only to private motorists and not to commercial drivers as Brennan had hoped The IRHA has had no indication from other insurance companies as to their plans for discounts, but there seems to have been no loading either.
None of our members have reported problems regarding drivers with penalty points and insurance," says IRHA organiser Sheila McCabe, who has been working on the general issues of insurance for the association. Before discounting, insurance companies have been seeking access to the National Driver File (NDF), which details points levied on each motorist. Hibernian has not achieved this but reached a compromise whereby information can be compared. For instance, Hibernian might submit 50,000 motorists' names and NDF responds by saying that 49500 are clear of points. Operators agree with penalty points serious offences but feel that the scheduli offences to be introduced next year could better focused to tackle specific problem at and not be regarded as a panacea for all They have seen little improvement on the ro since penalty points were introduced.
"Whereas people had been travelling at 70mph before the points, it is down to 45-50n now. That means traffic backs up coming i towns because Gardai often have a checkpc in the 30 and 40-mile limit. It is increasing journey times," says Divers. •