Skip to main content

FTA Ireland wants tougher roadside enforcement to match new traffic laws

FTA Ireland (FTAI) says it would like to see proposed new national traffic laws matched with an increased resource for roadside enforcement by the Gardai. The response from the FTAI follows the announcement of The Road Traffic No.2 Act 2013, (introduced to improve safety levels on Irish roads) outlined by minister for transport, tourism and sport Leo Varadkar. The new traffic laws will include roadside impairment tests for drug driving; higher penalty points for speeding, mobile phone use and not wearin
February 21, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
FTA Ireland (FTAI) says it would like to see proposed new national traffic laws matched with an increased resource for roadside enforcement by the Gardai.

The response from the FTAI follows the announcement of The Road Traffic No.2 Act 2013, (introduced to improve safety levels on Irish roads) outlined by minister for transport, tourism and sport Leo Varadkar.  The new traffic laws will include roadside impairment tests for drug driving; higher penalty points for speeding, mobile phone use and not wearing seatbelts; and allows unconscious drivers to be tested.

“This Act focuses predominantly on the human factors in road safety by strengthening and extending the law in key areas. This includes a new category of novice driving licenses, higher penalty points in key areas, and the testing of unconscious drivers for intoxication,” Varadkar said.

Neil McDonnell, general manager of FTA Ireland, said, “There is no doubt that these new traffic laws will improve road safety levels on Irish roads, but FTA Ireland would like to also see that the measures should be matched with an increased resource for roadside enforcement by Gardai.  We also believe that enforcement should go further, and, therefore, legislation must ensure severe penalties for drivers who fail to bring their driving licence to court, thereby avoiding the fixing of points to their licences.”

Related Content

  • Implementing road safety initiatives
    July 13, 2012
    Blair Turner examines infrastructure options for achieving Safe System outcomes and their implementation in Australia Like a number of other developed countries around the world, Australia has recently adopted a 'Safe System' approach to addressing road safety. This approach, which stems from Sweden's Vision Zero and Sustainable Safety in the Netherlands, recognises that humans as road users are fallible and will make mistakes. There are also limits to the kinetic energy exchange that humans can tolerate (
  • Barrier innovation putting traffic safety and flow first
    April 3, 2014
    Cutting-edge barriers offering greater safety at the same time as limiting traffic disruption are proving in demand on busy world highways, as Guy Woodford reports Small footprint; minimum disruption after impact; lower labour costs; all said to be elements contributing to the growing popularity of the Trend terminal from Trinity Highway Products. This family of end terminals offers a range of safe and efficient solutions to barrier ends with quick and easy assembly and installation. Trinity claims th
  • Road fatalities drink driving
    April 16, 2012
    The European Union is making serious moves to tackle road fatalities in a bid to cut Europe's road death rates to 25,000/year by 2010. So far, measures taken have had little effect, bringing the number down by just 18% to 41,000/year.
  • UK to cut down on “disruptive roadworks”
    January 15, 2024
    The announcement comes today, on the UK’s annual so-called National Pothole Day.