Comments on: Road deaths … what to do, what to do http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829 Níl ann ach raiméis : It's nothing but nonsense Sat, 10 Jan 2009 09:45:18 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: maca http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-57743 maca Fri, 03 Nov 2006 12:25:24 +0000 http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-57743 I think the way it works is that you get a points penalty & fine for breaking an offence, if you don't pay and end up going to court and are convicted of the offence then you get an extra points penalty. Regarding the fine, you have 28 days to pay the fine or else you have to pay a higher fine, if you don't pay that then you go to court. Here's an example from the government website: "Speeding offences: an on-the-spot fine of 80 euro, together with 2 penalty points. ... ... You have 28 days in which to pay your fine from the date the notice issues to you to pay your fine. If you do not pay your fine, the fine then increases to 120 euro which you pay within 28 days. If after this time (56 days) you still have not paid your fine, you will have to go to your District court. If you are convicted in Court of speeding offences and non-payment of fines, you will automatically receive 4 penalty points and a fine to a maximum of 800 euro." Driving on hard shoulder IS an offence as far as I know but some people still do it. I do it only to let cars by the odd time. I think the way it works is that you get a points penalty & fine for breaking an offence, if you don’t pay and end up going to court and are convicted of the offence then you get an extra points penalty.

Regarding the fine, you have 28 days to pay the fine or else you have to pay a higher fine, if you don’t pay that then you go to court.

Here’s an example from the government website:
“Speeding offences: an on-the-spot fine of 80 euro, together with 2 penalty points. … … You have 28 days in which to pay your fine from the date the notice issues to you to pay your fine. If you do not pay your fine, the fine then increases to 120 euro which you pay within 28 days. If after this time (56 days) you still have not paid your fine, you will have to go to your District court. If you are convicted in Court of speeding offences and non-payment of fines, you will automatically receive 4 penalty points and a fine to a maximum of 800 euro.”

Driving on hard shoulder IS an offence as far as I know but some people still do it. I do it only to let cars by the odd time.

]]> By: Antonio from Italy http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-57695 Antonio from Italy Fri, 03 Nov 2006 11:38:32 +0000 http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-57695 Help me understand... There's a penalty on payment and one on conviction, is that right? How does it work? And those figures in the last two columns are the fines in euros, aren't they? The first one if you pay within 28 days, the second one if you pay later. Is that right? Then, a second question: Driving on the hard shoulder of a Motorway... It seems to be an offence... But I remember that many cars used to drive on the hard shoulder when they were slower than the other cars. I myself did that in some occasions... Can you clear it up for me? Thanks! P.S.: Sorry for the many typos in my former comment Help me understand…
There’s a penalty on payment and one on conviction, is that right? How does it work?
And those figures in the last two columns are the fines in euros, aren’t they? The first one if you pay within 28 days, the second one if you pay later. Is that right?

Then, a second question:
Driving on the hard shoulder of a Motorway…
It seems to be an offence… But I remember that many cars used to drive on the hard shoulder when they were slower than the other cars. I myself did that in some occasions… Can you clear it up for me?
Thanks!

P.S.: Sorry for the many typos in my former comment

]]> By: maca http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-57684 maca Fri, 03 Nov 2006 09:35:39 +0000 http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-57684 Gerry, totally agreed on that. Antonio, thanks for the comprehensive answer! It sounds like a good strict system you have there, but it sounds like enforcement is the problem, not enough cops on the streets checking speed etc. Big problem here too. To be honest i'm not familiar with our system because it was introduced when I was in Finland. So I had to Google it... Here's a table showing the offenses and points/fines - <a href="http://www.drivingschoolireland.com/penalty_points.html" rel="nofollow">Irish Penalty Points System</a> Gerry, totally agreed on that.

Antonio, thanks for the comprehensive answer! It sounds like a good strict system you have there, but it sounds like enforcement is the problem, not enough cops on the streets checking speed etc. Big problem here too.

To be honest i’m not familiar with our system because it was introduced when I was in Finland. So I had to Google it…
Here’s a table showing the offenses and points/fines – Irish Penalty Points System

]]> By: Antonio from Italy http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-57221 Antonio from Italy Thu, 02 Nov 2006 09:58:54 +0000 http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-57221 Maca, controls on the roads are one of the biggest problems we have. Not enough men on patrol, they say; too indulgent, I say. Unfortunately there are not enough policemen on the main roads, you can drive on a highway for 5 hours and not see a single police car. Drivers know that and take advantage of this lack, and they speed. General speed limits are 50 kmh in towns and cities, 90 kmh on outer roads and 130 kmh on highways. Different speed limits can be specified from place to place. We have 20 points on every driving licence. As you committ an offence a certain number of points are taken off from your licence. When you are left with 0 points your licence is withdrawn and you have to pass the driving test again. On the other hand, every two years without an offence you get 2 extra points. The maximum number of points you can have on your licence is 30. In addition to the points they deduct for an offence, there's a fine, of course. Here are some example: -Speeding: if you exceed the speed limit by 10 to 40 kmh, the fine is from 143 to 573 euros (at the discretion of the policeman) and 2 points off. If you exceed the speed limit by over 40 kmh the fine is from 357 to 1,433 euros and 10 points off -Driving while using the mobile phone is an offence and the fine is 68 to 275 euros and 5 points off -Irregular carrying of animals on board (ie cats without cat carrier): fino from 68 to 275 euros and 1 point off -U-turn on highways: fine form 1,626 to 6,506 euros and 10 points off -Drunk driving: the fine is from 357 to 1433 euros, 10 points off and up to one month in jail -Parking offence: the fine is from 35 to 143 euros, no points penalty All the points penalties are doubled if the driver has been having the licence for less than three years. And tens of other situations. I have 22 points on my licence, because I have the original 20 points and the 2 extra points the gave me after two years without offence. This system is effective since 2003, so next year I could have 2 extra points more if I don't commit any offence until next June. I know you have points on your licences as well... How does it work? Maca,
controls on the roads are one of the biggest problems we have. Not enough men on patrol, they say; too indulgent, I say.
Unfortunately there are not enough policemen on the main roads, you can drive on a highway for 5 hours and not see a single police car. Drivers know that and take advantage of this lack, and they speed.
General speed limits are 50 kmh in towns and cities, 90 kmh on outer roads and 130 kmh on highways. Different speed limits can be specified from place to place.
We have 20 points on every driving licence. As you committ an offence a certain number of points are taken off from your licence. When you are left with 0 points your licence is withdrawn and you have to pass the driving test again. On the other hand, every two years without an offence you get 2 extra points. The maximum number of points you can have on your licence is 30.
In addition to the points they deduct for an offence, there’s a fine, of course.
Here are some example:
-Speeding: if you exceed the speed limit by 10 to 40 kmh, the fine is from 143 to 573 euros (at the discretion of the policeman) and 2 points off. If you exceed the speed limit by over 40 kmh the fine is from 357 to 1,433 euros and 10 points off
-Driving while using the mobile phone is an offence and the fine is 68 to 275 euros and 5 points off
-Irregular carrying of animals on board (ie cats without cat carrier): fino from 68 to 275 euros and 1 point off
-U-turn on highways: fine form 1,626 to 6,506 euros and 10 points off
-Drunk driving: the fine is from 357 to 1433 euros, 10 points off and up to one month in jail
-Parking offence: the fine is from 35 to 143 euros, no points penalty
All the points penalties are doubled if the driver has been having the licence for less than three years.
And tens of other situations.
I have 22 points on my licence, because I have the original 20 points and the 2 extra points the gave me after two years without offence. This system is effective since 2003, so next year I could have 2 extra points more if I don’t commit any offence until next June.

I know you have points on your licences as well… How does it work?

]]> By: Gerry O'Sullivan http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-56413 Gerry O'Sullivan Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:15:45 +0000 http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-56413 I think there is plenty of will among the general public for something to be done, but to my mind the Gardai are at fault* for not doing their job properly. I often see cars with L-plates on motorways, yet learners aren't supposed to drive on motorways, and should be escorted off if caught. (If it's not a learner driving the car, then whoever is should take the fucking plates off, before anyone points this out.) My real bugbear, as I described in my post that you linked to, is the cops going for the soft speed targets rather than the ones that do all the damage. The Gardai can go on all they like about increasing numbers of speeding fines issued, but it means shag-all if the number of road deaths is going up too. *I should qualify this by stating that it is of course the speed-merchants/drink-drivers, etc. who are primarily at fault for road deaths. I think there is plenty of will among the general public for something to be done, but to my mind the Gardai are at fault* for not doing their job properly. I often see cars with L-plates on motorways, yet learners aren’t supposed to drive on motorways, and should be escorted off if caught. (If it’s not a learner driving the car, then whoever is should take the fucking plates off, before anyone points this out.)

My real bugbear, as I described in my post that you linked to, is the cops going for the soft speed targets rather than the ones that do all the damage.

The Gardai can go on all they like about increasing numbers of speeding fines issued, but it means shag-all if the number of road deaths is going up too.

*I should qualify this by stating that it is of course the speed-merchants/drink-drivers, etc. who are primarily at fault for road deaths.

]]> By: maca http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-56389 maca Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:46:04 +0000 http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-56389 Hi Antonio!! Yeah, your dead right there! I've been doing some driving recently, taking in the sights in the North West and am continually surprised by how fast some people are going on roads where they really shouldn't be going over 60. It's nuts. Dead right about the buses too! Thankfully that's changing now (I think). Are they strict on driving offences in italy? How much is your speeding fine for example? Hi Antonio!!

Yeah, your dead right there! I’ve been doing some driving recently, taking in the sights in the North West and am continually surprised by how fast some people are going on roads where they really shouldn’t be going over 60. It’s nuts.
Dead right about the buses too! Thankfully that’s changing now (I think).

Are they strict on driving offences in italy? How much is your speeding fine for example?

]]> By: Antonio from Italy http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-56385 Antonio from Italy Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:16:08 +0000 http://www.ssi-developer.net/rant/?p=829#comment-56385 The situation of roads in Ireland is often terrible. When I've been there lately I could not understand how some narrow roads could have a 100 kmh limit. That was completely unsafe. Some people told me that most of fault was Eastern Europe drivers', because they drive old and unsafe cars, they're drunk while driving and use the wrong side of the road. While I was in ireland in May I heard of two schoolbus accidents. This is another thing I could not understand. Those schoolbuses were old and rusty. There were not safety equipments on board. How can a bus leave a stop while its door are still open? That's why some poor kid can get killed. Schoolbus drivers were crazy, I saw buses speeding beyond imagination on the narrow and winding Burren roads! Anyway, the same measures you hope for should be applied over here too... The situation of roads in Ireland is often terrible. When I’ve been there lately I could not understand how some narrow roads could have a 100 kmh limit. That was completely unsafe. Some people told me that most of fault was Eastern Europe drivers’, because they drive old and unsafe cars, they’re drunk while driving and use the wrong side of the road.
While I was in ireland in May I heard of two schoolbus accidents. This is another thing I could not understand. Those schoolbuses were old and rusty. There were not safety equipments on board. How can a bus leave a stop while its door are still open? That’s why some poor kid can get killed. Schoolbus drivers were crazy, I saw buses speeding beyond imagination on the narrow and winding Burren roads!
Anyway, the same measures you hope for should be applied over here too…

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