Make sure to belt up to avoid points

Allowing a child to travel unrestrained in a car or a goods vehicle is to become a penalty points offence from midnight.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has announced a raft of new seatbelt-related penalties in a bid to tackle the flouting of this law.

Figures from the RSA have shown that 23 per cent of drivers killed in the first six months of this year were not wearing a seatbelt.

Similarly, 29 per cent of passengers killed in the same time period were also not belted in.

The six seatbelt-related penalty points offences announced today include a driver of a car, goods vehicle or bus not wearing a seatbelt; a driver allowing a child under three to be carried in a car or goods vehicle without ‘being restrained by appropriate child restraint’ and a driver of a car or goods vehicle allowing a person under 17 to be carried without wearing a safety belt.

Also considered an offence is a driver of a car or goods vehicle allowing a child under three years of age to be carried in a rear-facing child seat where the car seat’s airbag has not been turned off.

Each of the six offences carries two penalty points upon payment of a fine, or four if the case goes to court and the driver is convicted.

Minister Varadkar said: ‘Shocking as it may sound there are still motorists who permit children under three to travel without being properly restrained.

‘Failing to wear a seatbelt or allowing a passenger to travel unrestrained is a breach of the law and you risk a fine and penalty points on your licence which will remain in place for three years.’

Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority, Noel Brett said that wearing a seatbelt can significantly increase your chances of survival if you’re involved in a car accident and can reduce the severity of injuries.

He added: ‘Putting on a seatbelt only takes a few seconds and it’s something we do automatically. Despite this there is a minority who are willing to put their lives at risk by not wearing one.

‘If you do not wear a seatbelt you become a potential killer in a crash. You will be thrown around the inside of a car, possibly seriously injuring or killing other occupants in the car.

‘Quite simply, without a seatbelt you’re a killer.’

Welcoming the announcement, Assistant Garda Commissioner Gerard Phillips appealed to motorists to drive safely this bank holiday weekend.

He added: ‘As with all existing penalty point offences, we wish to remind the public that they have nothing to fear from penalty points once they are compliant with our road traffic laws.

‘Ultimately, they are designed to save lives and prevent injuries and at the end of the day, this is our number one goal.’

Visit the Department of Transport or the Road Safety Authority websites for further information.