Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 1109: To ask the Minister for Transport if he proposes to amend the penalty points system to address the serious anomaly whereby dangerous driving does not attract any penalty points in contrast to relatively less serious offences such as marginally exceeding the speed limit which is penalised with points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29339/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Traffic Act 2002 provides the legislative basis for the introduction and operation of the penalty points system. The intended effect of the penalty points system is to instil greater caution and responsibility in motorists in their driving and to change the behaviour of drivers who recurrently breach road traffic law. In the case of penalty points, a six month driving disqualification arises from the accumulation of 12 penalty points.

The most serious driving offences, including dangerous driving, can attract automatic disqualification upon first court conviction and are therefore not within the penalty points system or the system of fixed charges.