Carnage week

The biggest problem with our roads is the lack of education. Ok, you
now have to pass a theory test before you can get a license to drive,
but after that you're free to go. Well done, a big sign with STOP
written on it means stop. Do you actually stop though?
Damien mentions the Hibernian Ignition course. I did a similiar course
through work a few years back and it really helped. More information
on leaving space, tailgating, leaving an out, all contribute to safer
driving.
A few months ago when I decided to get a motorcycle, I went for
another course. Bike Craft in Blarney run a course that is recognised
by Aon for cheaper bike insurance. These are a good idea. You should
not be allowed to drive unless you first pass one of these courses.
Doing an online exam and driving off with no qualified driver is not
good enough.
These courses don't come cheap. Hibernian knock off a large chunk off
your insurance premium though if you pass the course. Aon do the same
for the motorcycle course. However that's it. Here is where we can
make the most difference.
Make it compulsury to pass a practical test before you are allowed to
drive on a provisional license. This is before even getting a full
license and being allowed on motorways. Standardise these courses and
the government should be pushing that all insurance companies offer
discounts to people who pass these courses. Hibernian and Aon are not
enough. The insurance industury made €624 million on motor insurance last year, they can afford
to drop premiums for safer drivers.
With higer cuts for better test scores, this will necourage people to
not just aim for a basic pass and get on the road. If needed, go back
a second time and do better. An extra 10% off your insurance will pay
for itself after a few years.

Penalty points. These aren't working for a number of reasons. The main
one is they aren't being enforced. We need more people looking for
this, more fixed cameras. If the government privatised speed cameras,
paying companies a commission, there would be vans hidden all over the
country to nab people speeding. Not a popular move a year before an
election, but you can guarantee that speeding would stop.
The second reason these don't work is that they only apply to people
on irish driving liceneses. You notice all the cars with yellow plates
speeding on our roads? If your license is non Irish you can't get
penalty points here. Drivers from Northern Ireland are pretty much
above the law. they can ignore fines and unless they're going fast
enough to warrant the car being took off them, they pretty much can do
whatever they want.

Appeals. So you lose your license for two years. After one year you
appeal and get it back. What's the point? If you lose your license for
two years you lose it for two years. No appeals. None. At all. For
more serious offences like drink driving, we need to take the license
off for longer, possibly for good. For speeding offfences, penalty
poinst are only the start. 115 in a 100 zone is penalty points. 140
should be instant disqualification.

Read more on the stop the carnage week idea on Damien Blakes blog.