Northamptonshire National News: New law to keep banned drivers off UK and Irish roads

New law to keep banned drivers off UK and Irish roads

A new law to keep disqualified drivers off UK and Irish roads comes into force today.

As a result of a groundbreaking agreement between the British, Irish and Northern Ireland Ministers, UK drivers disqualified for serious motoring offences in Ireland will no longer escape punishment when they return home.

Similarly, disqualifications earned by Irish drivers while in the UK will be recognised and enforced when they return to Ireland.

Road Safety Minister Paul Clark said:

“We've cut the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 40% since the mid-1990s – that's more than 19,000 fewer deaths or serious injuries in a year and means we now have some of the safest roads in the world.

“But we need to continue to work to make our roads even safer and if a UK driver commits a serious offence while in Ireland it is right that their ban should still apply when they return home.

“From today this new law will ensure that disqualified drivers are not able to escape their punishment and so keep dangerous drivers off the roads.”

The new law is the first practical step to recognise driving disqualifications in Europe under the terms of the 1998 European Convention on driving disqualifications.

Posted Thursday January 28^th 2010
By Department for Transport