Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The penalty points system, which was provided for in the Road Traffic Act 2002, has been operating since October 2002. Penalty points apply to four major traffic offences. These are speeding, seat belt wearing, driving without insurance and careless driving offences and by 30 April 2005 points have been recorded in respect of 232,820 drivers.

The penalty points system was designed on the basis that its operation would be supported by a series of linked IT projects. The national driver file is fully operational and other IT support systems being developed by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, which will be available later this year, will facilitate a major extension of the operation of the system. This will augment the level of deterrent against poor driver behaviour and thus further enhance road safety.