Major Crackdown On Learner Drivers As New Penalty Points System Announced

Learner drivers who fail to display L plates will now receive penalty points as part of a new crackdown on dangerous driving. Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe announced this morning that penalty points are to be applied to a range of new offences in an effort to curb the rising death toll on Irish roads. 2013 saw the annual number of road deaths rise for the first time in several years, adding that "the fixed charge and penalty points system has played a major role in improving road safety in the years since its introduction”. Under the new measures, 14 new penalty point offences will be introduced and tougher sanctions will be applied for nine existing ones. For the first time, learner drivers who fail to display L or R plates will receive two penalty points and a fixed charge fine. If the offence involves a court appearance, this will increase to four points. Drivers will also receive a penalty point if they are found to be driving unaccompanied while on a learner permit. Penalty points will now apply to drivers breaking a ban on U-turns, those breaking rules on the use of mini roundabouts, offences relating to the size and weight of larger vehicles, those going beyond no-entry to vehicles signs, drivers disobeying traffic control signs and motorists driving without a licence plate or with a modified license plate. Changes have also been made to the number of points received for offences including failure to keep to the left-hand side of the road, dangerous overtaking, failure to yield at a yield sign and breaking of speed restrictions.