There is now nothing to stop 31 new offences being added to the penalty-points system from April 3rd, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen said yesterday.
Dangerous overtaking, driving too close to the vehicle in front and failing to stop for a school-warden sign are just some of the offences that will soon incur penalty points.
Other offences include parking in a dangerous position, failing to obey a "yield" or "stop" sign, driving on the hard shoulder of a motorway or going the wrong way on a one-way street.
Commenting on the expansion of the system, Mr Cullen said a "last minute glitch with the wording" had almost derailed the process but he was now ready to sign the measures into law.
An Garda Síochána said computer problems with the introduction of penalty points had been overcome, and the Garda Pulse computer system would be linked to computers in the courts service from April 15th. Even allowing for a 12-day gap between the extension of penalty points on April 3rd to full computerisation, the Garda Press Office said no delays were envisaged.
Lorry and bus drivers will be liable for penalty points if they are caught driving a heavy goods vehicle or bus on the outside lane of a motorway.
Just four offences currently incur penalty point: speeding, driving without insurance, careless driving and ignoring seat-belt laws.
Mr Cullen said the addition of the new offences was "part of a major crackdown on irresponsible driver behaviour".
Fixed charges ranging from €60 to €80 will apply on most of these offences. If the fine is not paid within 28 days, the charge rises by 50 per cent. If the fine is not paid after 56 days, court proceedings will be initiated.
Drivers will receive between one and two penalty points for most of the new offences. However, if the case goes to court, drivers could receive as many as five penalty points. Three of the most serious offences (driving a vehicle when unfit, dangerous parking and breach of duties at an accident) will lead directly to a court hearing.
When a driver receives 12 penalty points, he or she is automatically disqualified from driving for six months. At the end of last December, more than 291,800 drivers had received penalty points and 19 drivers had been disqualified from driving.
Mr Cullen said the penalty points approach was essential as 86 per cent of road deaths could be directly blamed on irresponsible driver-behaviour.
He said the roll-out of the penalty points system had been delayed because of difficulties with the Garda's IT systems but he understood that the new system would be in place by April.
Mr Cullen also said he was about to propose legislation governing a random breath-testing scheme, following advice from the Attorney General. Clear guidelines would set out how and when the checkpoints could be set up, he said.