Northern Ireland Executive
23 Nov 2021, 17:30 GMT+10
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has launched a public consultation to seek views on her proposal to make careless driving a fixed penalty notice offence.
The consultation paper will also invite views on the introduction of Operation SNAP in Northern Ireland. Operation SNAP enables members of the public to submit dash cam footage showing careless driving or riding. It is currently operated by a number of police forces across England and Wales with offences disposed of through either the offer of a driver improvement course or a fixed penalty.
Minister Mallon said:
"As Minister for Infrastructure part of my responsibility is promoting and improving road safety. This is a responsibility I take very seriously. I have made it clear that I take a zero tolerance approach to irresponsible behaviour on the roads and I am committed to working with partners to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries across our roads network.
"Earlier this year I introduced legislation to tackle the damage caused by drink drivers and also those who continue to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving; I am keen to bring forward further legislation that will deter poor driving behaviours and help to support our colleagues in the criminal justice sector."
Continuing, the Minister added:
"I was shocked to learn that about 42% of all cases coming to our courts in Northern Ireland were for motoring offences including careless driving.
"I am committed to working with the Justice Minister and the PSNI to tackle this problem. The consultation that I am launching today seeks views on proposals to reduce the number of minor motoring offences coming before our courts, deflecting police and prosecution resources away from more serious and contested criminal issues. It is so important that we work together to help our community as we recover from the dreadful damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The consultation proposes that the fixed penalty in Northern Ireland should be Pound 100 and 3 penalty points for minor careless driving offences, with more serious offences still referred for consideration by the Courts."
The consultation paper will also consider the potential for the introduction of Operation SNAP in Northern Ireland. The submission of dash cam footage, obtained safely and appropriately, will provide an additional means for road traffic law enforcement here. However, legislative change will be required to make careless driving a fixed penalty offence.
The Minister added:
"I recently discussed this issue with the Chief Constable. The actual timeline for introducing Operation SNAP in Northern Ireland will be for the PSNI to decide. For my part, I will ensure the legislative process moves forward as quickly as is possible."
The consultation will remain open until 18 January 2022.
Response can be made online at: https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/dfi-1/a-consultation-to-consider-making-careless-driving. You can also download the consultation from the Department's website at: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-consider-making-careless-driving-fixed-penalty-notice-offence
Get a daily dose of Irish Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.
More InformationThe death toll in Gaza on the weekend has passed 50,000, local health authorities have reported. What started the carnage was the Hamas-led...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to invest up to US$100 million in research to develop...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has removed a 2024 advisory from its website that called gun...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Industry leaders are pushing the Trump administration to clear regulatory obstacles slowing the rollout of self-driving...
NEW YORK, New York – Israeli military forces caused deaths and unnecessary suffering of Palestinian patients while occupying hospitals...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: The European Union is set to tighten steel import quotas starting in April, reducing inflows by 15 percent to prevent...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Ireland has risen two places to become the 15th happiest country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: The European Union is set to tighten steel import quotas starting in April, reducing inflows by 15 percent to prevent...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Ireland's property prices continued their upward trend, rising by 8.1 percent in the 12 months leading to January...
BERLIN, Germany: Audi has announced plans to cut up to 7,500 jobs in Germany by 2029 as part of a broader restructuring aimed at reducing...
FRANKFURT, Germany: UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti will receive a pay package of just over 15 million Swiss francs (US$17 million) for 2024,...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Dublin came alive with energy and color as thousands lined the streets to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, soaking in...