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Motorists who commit multiple offences could face increased penalty points

Motorists who commit more than one offence will face increased penalty points under a plan going to Government.

The current system, where points are only applied to the more serious violation, is set to change, meaning drivers committing multiple offences would get penalty points for each breach of the law.

Government ministers are to meet this week to identify ways to reverse a trend of rising road fatalities.

So far this year 127 people have lost their lives on the roads, an increase of 25% on the same period last year.

Minister of State Jack Chambers said the increasing number of road deaths is shocking.

He said twice the number of people lost their lives on Irish roads last month compared to August 2022.

"This is something I want to reverse," he said.

"I am bringing a speed limits review to Government this month to address the inconsistency of speed limits on our roads."

Mr Chambers is due to meet Minister for Justice Helen McEntee this week.

That meeting is set to focus on strengthening garda enforcement on the roads between now and Christmas to "reverse this worrying trend."

'Going backwards'

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he has spoken to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about the need for greater enforcement of road safety legislation.

In correspondence with the road safety group PARC (Promoting Awareness Responsibility and Care on our roads), Mr Varadkar said he is concerned that "we are now going backwards when it comes to road safety" and the issue required further focus and attention.

His remarks come in the wake of several deaths on Irish roads in recent weeks.

The Taoiseach said the recent spike in road fatalities was "not a blip" and the matter needed to be addressed.

He said he would write to Minister McEntee and Mr Chambers to suggest that they convene a meeting of the ministerial committee on road safety.

He added that he may also chair the meeting.

Mr Varadkar said that he had spoken to Commissioner Harris about the need for greater enforcement, adding that garda numbers are higher than they were five years ago when there was more enforcement.

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PARC, which helps people affected by serious road traffic collisions, has said it is alarmed by the rise in road deaths this year.

PARC wrote to the Taoiseach calling for a series of actions to address the sharp rise in road fatalities.

They include greater enforcement, better roadside technology for gardaí, the sharing of driver information between state agencies, and with insurers, and stricter rules to ensure that learner drivers sit a driving test before they can obtain a further permit.

PARC says urgent action is needed by the Government to reduce the heartbreaking trend of increased road deaths.

A garda speed check last year

National Slow Down Day

Tomorrow, gardaí will conduct a national speed enforcement operation from 7am to the same time on Tuesday.

Operation 'Slow Down' was picked to coincide with the full return of schools.

Road Safety Authority CEO Sam Waide said: "We have a speed epidemic in Ireland.

"We must tackle the attitude that speeding is safe and acceptable. Speeding increases both the likelihood of a road traffic collision occurring and the severity of injury sustained, should a collision occur.

"Speed has a huge impact on whether a vulnerable road user is killed or seriously injured when a collision occurs.

"We simply have to ask every single driver to play their part in saving lives, routinely slowing down for every single trip, every single day. National Slow Down Day is the day for us all to start."

With additional reporting by Micheál Lehane