Car modifications used by "boy racers" will be outlawed from next January under a planned reform of the National Car Test (NCT).
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Ivor Callely indicated his intention to ban darkened windows, and put a cap on noise levels from engines to discourage the development of customised cars associated with speeding.
Under a planned order, amending the terms of the NCT, cars will be failed if they are found to contain unauthorised modifications after January 1st 2006.
Mr Callely said he was also planning to establish an NCT technical forum to which the public and other interested parties could make submissions on possible future changes to the test.
He confirmed that a mid-term review of NCT Service (NCTS) Ltd had been completed and that the Swiss-owned company would continue to operate the test until 2009.
As part of the planned reforms, however, the company may have an expanded advisory role for motorists taking the test.
It is proposed that NCTS will advise motorists on technical issues, such as tyre quality, aside from deciding on success or failure in the test.
Speaking to an Oireachtas committee yesterday, Mr Callely expressed his concern about the high death rate among young men on the roads, as well as the "boy racer" phenomenon.
At the same meeting, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen announced plans to extend the penalty points system early next year to incorporate offences such as dangerous overtaking, failure to obey traffic lights and road signs, and crossing the continuous white median line on roads.
"I have been assured that the necessary support framework for a significant extension of the system will be in place by April next year at the latest," said Mr Cullen.
"I have asked my officials to press with their colleagues in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Síochána to advance that date, if at all possible."
The Minister said he would also shortly bring forward a Bill creating a tendering process for the privatisation of speed cameras.
The Garda, with the assistance of the National Roads Authority, would be responsible for choosing placement sites for such cameras based on "collision history and prevalence of speeding incidents".
Mr Cullen added concerns about a legal challenge meant he would not be establishing random breath testing before the end of the year, despite such a recommendation in the Road Safety Strategy.
Kathleen Lynch (Labour) questioned the Minister's commitment to road safety, citing a claim to the committee by chairman of the National Safety Council Eddie Shaw that he could not adequately plan certain campaigns because he did not have the necessary money in advance.
"Mr Shaw never raised that with me," Mr Cullen replied. "So I am surprised that is being said."
The Minister said anything Mr Shaw had sought from his department had been granted. He added that as legislators, "we must strive to look at this subject in a dispassionate manner".
