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Cross-border drive ban welcomed 05.02.10
by Michael Stamp, Inishowen Independent
MUTUAL recognition of driving disqualifications
between Ireland and Britain has been welcomed by
Donegal North East Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney and
Susan Gray of PARC.
The ruling, which came into effect on January 28,
means that for the first time, Northern drivers
disqualified from driving in the North will also be
disqualified from driving here. The same will apply
to drivers who are disqualified in the Republic. |
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Susan Gray of Public
Against Road Carnage (PARC) commended the move in a
statement: “PARC road safety group is delighted with
the progress being made with regard to the mutual
recognition of driving disqualifications between the
North and the Republic,” she said. “It was simply
not acceptable that drivers banned here could drive
with immunity across the border while putting lives
at risk or that drivers banned in the North could
cross the border and commit serious traffic offences
without punishment. This change has not come before
time and will send out a very clear message to those
motorists who have |
little concern for
other road users, a message that is well overdue.
“Minister Dempsey is to be praised for bringing this
change about – along with the RSA for including it
in their Road Safety Strategy 2006-2012, a change
which will no doubt result in safer roads in Ireland
for all of us. The RSA promised this in its 2006-12
strategy, and Minister Noel Dempsey had also
promised it, and I’m glad to see it has finally been
delivered,” Mrs Gray said. “It’s well overdue – it
was first promised in 2002.”
Offences such as drink driving, drug driving,
driving a vehicle while disqualified, and hit and
run driving are among the offences covered in the
initiative.
Deputy Blaney was effusive in his praise for the
initiative; “People are not disqualified from
driving for no good reason. This is a step that is
not taken lightly by authorities either side of the
border and it has not been satisfactory from a road
safety point of view that drivers who have been
disqualified on one side of the border, have been
able to drive freely on the other. I am the Irish
Co-Chair of the British Irish-Inter Parliamentary
Body and we conducted a report into the need for
such a measure last year. The report recommended
that this measure be introduced as soon as possible
and I am happy to see it come into effect.”
“This kind of co-operation between the Irish
Government and authorities in the North and the UK
is very positive for people in all three
jurisdictions. None of us want to see dangerous
drivers on our roads.” |
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