Graduated penalty points system, and new road safety cameras

The draft program for Government includes some significant policies initiatives aimed at improving driver behaviour on our roads.

New road safety cameras are to be introduced that will automatically detect motorists using mobile phones while driving and people not wearing seatbelts.

Re-education courses are to be introduced for drivers as a judicial sanction for road traffic offences and a graduated penalty points system is to be reviewed.

The public is to be allowed to upload dash-cam footage of dangerous driving to a new garda portal. This is to make it easier to report dangerous driving incidents.

There is a commitment to free up gardaí from having to attend court for road traffic offences.

This will require the digitisation of all relevant documents, and ensuring that information is shared in real time between the Court Service and An Garda Síochána, the Department of Transport and other relevant agencies.

The gardaí will also be given high-powered roads policing vehicles, while the existing fleet of garda cars will continue to be upgraded to support active enforcement.