Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar has announced changes to introduce or increase penalty points for seatbelts and vehicle weight offences from this Bank Holiday weekend.
Statistics released by the RSA earlier this month have shown that in the first six months of this year 23 per cent of drivers killed and 29 per cent of passengers killed were not wearing seatbelts. A particularly worrying feature is the number of people not wearing a seatbelt and who were ejected from the vehicle.
Minister Varadkar said: “We have made significant strides in recent years to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. However, the Gardaí still report that a large number of people do not wear their seatbelt or allow other passengers to travel unrestrained.”
The Minister continued: “Shocking as it may sound there are still motorists who permit children under three to travel without being properly restrained. Failing to wear a seatbelt or allowing a passenger to travel unrestrained is a breach of the law and you risk a fine and penalty points on your licence which will remain in place for three years.”
Since 2000 a total of 55 lives have been lost and 147 people have been seriously injured over August Bank Holiday weekends.
