Extra Garda enforcement must accompany the introduction of the 31 new penalty points offences, Gay Byrne, the new chairman of the Road Safety Authority, has said.
The greatest influence on driver behaviour was the "presence of the uniform" he said and drivers would only obey the laws if they thought there was a realistic chance they would be caught.
"The worst people are doing the worst driving because nobody is there to catch them . . . It's one thing imposing 31 new penalty point offences, it's a different thing to enforce them," he said.
The 31 new offences to be added to the penalty points system from Monday, including dangerous overtaking, driving too close to the vehicle in front and failing to stop for a school-warden, had come "rather late in the day", he said.
"It's astounding that, up to now, crossing a white line was not an offence. It should have been an offence long, long ago and not stopping at a stop sign should have been an offence long, long ago."
Mr Byrne suggested that a reward system should be introduced to encourage good driver behaviour.
"It's about time we started encouraging people to be more mannerly and more considerate on the roads."
Mr Byrne was speaking at the launch of the Best Buddies Cycling Challenge, a 145km (90 mile) and 40km (25 mile) cycle to raise funds for Best Buddies Ireland, a charity which fosters relationships between people with and without intellectual disabilities.
Cyclists can apply online to take part in the challenge, which starts in Phoenix Park on June 18th, at www.cyclingireland.ie.
