Sinn Fein spokesperson on Transport Dessie Ellis TD today spoke on how new penalty points targeting more dangerous offences will be policed and how road safety standards will be maintain in the coming years. He made his comments, at the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, in light of serious cuts to Garda resources which are essential in making our roads safe.
Deputy Ellis continued;
“Speeding, mobile phone use and not displaying L-plates or driving unaccompanied are serious threats to the safety of other road users and pedestrians. We need to review the points system to ensure that these acts are heavily discouraged and I welcome this.”
“The problem comes in policing. Our roads are not just safer because of a system of points it is because of the diligent and dedicated work of an Gardaí who are tasked with ensuring the law is obeyed on the road everyday.”
“It is difficult to see how an Gardaí can implement these points when they have been savagely cut by this government. ”
“We are seeing stations close or shut their doors earlier and cuts across the board which seriously draws into question whether these points will be anything more than window dressing.”
“There is also the matter of education. Nearly 800,000 people have points on their licence in the state. Some of these are reckless disrespectful drivers who need to be discouraged to act in this manner or put off the road. Some though are simply bad drivers due to failing of the testing system and an absolute lack of any education on driving outside of private driving schools which while in many cases excellent are out of too many prospective drivers’ reach due to cost”