New law to keep banned drivers off UK and Irish roads

A new law to keep disqualified drivers off UK and Republic of Ireland roads comes into force today.

As a result of a ground breaking agreement between the British, Irish and Northern Ireland Ministers, UK drivers disqualified for serious motoring offences in the Republic of Ireland will no longer escape punishment when they return home.

Similarly, disqualifications earned by Republic of Ireland drivers while in the UK will be recognised and enforced when they return home.

Road Safety Minister Edwin Poots said: “The reduction in the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads since the mid-1990s means we now have some of the safest roads in the world.

“But we need to continue to work tirelessly to make our roads even safer and if a UK driver commits a serious offence while in another jurisdiction it is right that their disqualification should still apply when they return home.

“From today this new law will ensure that disqualified drivers are not able to escape their punishment and so keep dangerous drivers off the roads.”

The new law is the first practical step to recognise driving disqualifications in Europe under the terms of the 1998 European Convention on driving disqualifications.

Notes to editors:

1. The agreement is within the framework established by the 1998 Convention on Driving Disqualifications. We believe that this is the first such instance of international cooperation within that framework.
2. In 1998, the UK and Republic of Ireland along with all thirteen (at the time) other EU Member States of the European Union signed the Convention on driving disqualifications (98/C 216/01). The Convention intends to ensure that drivers disqualified from driving in a member state other than their normal place of residence should not, on their return home, escape the consequences of that disqualification.
3. The Convention provides for six agreed kinds of conduct which will be internationally recognised for the purposes of driving disqualification. The Convention automatically comes into force across all Member States only when all original signatory States have ratified it. However, the Convention allows one EU Member State to recognise another's driving disqualifications before all Member States have ratified.
4. The agreed behaviours covered by the 1998 Convention include: reckless or dangerous driving; hit-and-run driving; driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs; speeding; and driving whilst disqualified. The Convention and therefore also today's agreement does not apply to disqualifications under the totting up of penalty points procedure.
5. The UK and Republic of Ireland implemented the necessary primary legislation to allow for ratification (in the UK through the Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003, and in the Republic of Ireland under the Road Traffic Act (2002). Both countries have made the relevant notification to the EU Council and legislation must come into force 90 days after notification, i.e. 28 January 2010.
6. Mutual recognition of driving disqualifications came into effect between Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 11 October 2004 and was extended to include the Isle of Man on 23 May 2005.
7. All media enquiries should be directed to the DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0003. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.