These include higher penalties for drivers who use hand held mobile phones or drivers not wearing seatbelts.
Arlene Foster said “I stated from my first day in this job that my priority is every single death and serious injury on our roads in Northern Ireland. I am committed to doing all I can to reduce carnage on our roads. That is a serious responsibility and I plan to tackle it in a serious and responsible manner. Today, I am announcing the introduction of tough new laws, which will come into force from 27 June 2007, that will impact positively on the safety of all road users.
“Almost all road deaths and injuries are preventable and most are caused by the behaviour of road users. These new penalties will send out a clear message to road users that I intend clamping down on irresponsible drivers who think they can ignore the law and put lives at risk.”
From 27 June 2007 car drivers who use a hand-held mobile phone will be liable to receive three penalty points and a maximum fine of £1000. For goods vehicle drivers the maximum fine is £2,500. Drivers who fail to wear a seat belt and drivers who fail to ensure that child passengers use seat belts or child restraints will also be liable to receive penalty points.
A TV campaign will alert road users to the very real dangers associated with using a mobile phone whilst driving and the change in penalties.
A press campaign will raise awareness of the full range of new offences which will include careless and inconsiderate driving.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. New offences and penalties to be introduced in June include:
- Failing to use seatbelts: three penalty points for driving without a seatbelt or for drivers carrying a child unbelted. Fine on conviction for carrying child unbelted in back to increase to a maximum £500.
- Speeding - a fixed penalty of £60 plus three penalty points for ignoring a temporary speed limit (eg at road works) - with 3-6 penalty points, a fine of up to £1,000 or disqualification if taken to court .
- Driving without proper control or driving using a handheld mobile phone: three penalty points; with fine of up to £1,000 [£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles, buses and coaches] and possible disqualification if taken to court. The current fixed penalty of £30 will increase to £60 in July.
- Careless and inconsiderate driving - fine to increase to a maximum £5,000.
- Using a vehicle in a dangerous condition becomes an obligatory disqualification of not less than six months if a similar offence has been committed within previous three years.
- Failure to give the police information which would identify the driver of a vehicle when an offence was committed - penalty points increased from three to six.
2. Other new road safety measures will be introduced later in the year.
3. Police detections in 2006 and Fixed Penalty Notices Issued:
| Misuse of Mobile Phone | 19,074 |
|---|---|
| Non-wearing of Seat Belt | 17,876 |
| Careless and Dangerous Driving | 8,455 |
4. An Explanatory Memorandum giving more detail on the proposed new measures is available along with the draft Order on the DOE's website www.roadsafetyni.gov.uk or www.opsi.gov.uk
