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DRIVERS WILL NEED to provide their driver number to take out a new motor insurance policy or renew an existing policy from the end of this month.
From 31 March, it will be a legal requirement for a driver number to be included as part of information supplied to insurance providers or brokers.
The driver number details will be added to the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID), which is used by gardaí to identify and apprehend uninsured drivers.
Under road safety legislation, it will be an offence from 31 March for any insurance provider or broker to issue a motor insurance policy where the driver number has not been supplied.
Numbers must be supplied for the primary policyholder but also for any named drivers on the policy.
Every motorist in Ireland has a unique driver number that is listed under section 4(d) on their driver’s licence.
“From 31st March onwards this legislative requirement will be a necessity for anyone who is looking to renew their motor insurance or to take out a new policy,” said David Fitzgerald, CEO of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland.
“For most people this will just mean they will have to take a quick look at their driver’s licence and provide the correct number, listed under point 4(d) on their licence as part of their renewal process. If they have additional drivers listed on their policy, then the driver numbers for those individuals will also have to be provided,” Fitzgerald said.
“This is an important measure that will help bring more safety to Irish roads and greater accountability to anyone who breaks the law,” he said.
“Every licensed driver has their own unique driver number which stays with them regardless of the vehicle they are using. This new legal requirement provides An Garda Síochána with a more comprehensive insight into any offences a driver may have committed, making it even more difficult for drivers who act illegally on Irish roads to evade detection.
“When combined with the impact the database is already making, allowing the Gardaí to identify uninsured drivers in seconds, this will further enhance the policing of Irish roads. We all want safer roads in this country and this adds another layer of effectiveness to IMID, aiding the battle against illegal driving activity.”
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He also said that: Motorists should turn on their lights as soon as light begins to fade. Lights should be on at ALL times.
Yes Shawn you are soooooo right about the light. When I learned to drive, many years ago, the man who was teaching me told me that the minute a drop of rain hits the windscreen….turn your lights on. In the months from late Sept until the end of March I have my lights on ALL the time.
I visit Croatia often and it is the law there to have you lights on aALL the time no matter what time of the year……
My eye sight is still very good but there are times that some colours of cars are the same colour of wet tarmac, if the driver hasn’t turned their lights on it is very, very difficult to see them. I once asked a man I nearly hit why he didn’t have his lights on in Dec and pouring rain……he said, and I quote….”I don’t legally have to turn my lights on until the street lights come on”….end of quote……
Don’t forget the rear foglight too Pontias – one of my pet hates being dazzled by the rear fog light of the car in front in clear conditions. Turn it ON when its foggy, turn it OFF again when you’re out of the fog!!
It has been proven that cars with lights on are less likely to be in accidents. Why do you think Volvo have them on as a default.
@Pontius. I agree but it makes spotting the idiots easier. One bit of fog yesterday and the gobsheites are driving in the rain this evening with fogs on !
Exact same thing happened me in 08… plank pierced through the tail light and came straight through into the car and stopped at the back of the head rest. That ranch fencing is lethal!! Makes ya think!
Here here Shawn
Good on you Jean. As well as darkness and rain an equally important reason for all road users to use daytime lights is the effect a very bright blinding sun has on your vision both ahead and behind. It affects motorists driving in both directions and can, if they’re in the shadow of a building or trees, bring your visibility down to almost zero if they don’t use their lights. As soon as I turn on the ignition I manually switch on lights irrelevant of time of day.
I could die before 2015. I know everyone can’t be expected to have the perspective on things that weird mix of terror and clarity gives you, and I was as arrogant as they come before this in terms of thinking I was young, fit and thus indestructible. At my worst though, I never let that cockiness put other peoples lives in danger, and that’s what I see these idiots doing every day of the week. Do you really need to rev the engine to get 3 inches over the white line at the traffic light? really? Do you think taking off a millisecond faster is gonna make for much?
Nobody thinks it’s gonna happen to them, it can happen to you. You’re just an elaborate bag of water, bones and electrical signals, a car accident can end your existence and in a flash every memory you’ve ever had, every moment you’ve ever experienced, will be gone forever. Your life is valuable, so is the life of the person in the car you’re dangerously overtaking, those people have kids, mothers, fathers, close friends who are like family. Calm down, slow down.
Well said Ryan !
That will buff out.
That’s why on the NRA roads spec the fencing railings are on the land side so if you hit them they just push off rather than bending and shattering around the post if they were on the road side .
Straight over the baby seat too!!
Cieran, well spotted, I didn’t even see that……
Sorry…Ciaran.
Was he in in inspired by your article earlier on ” have you ever taken a photo at a crash scene” i wonder
The police took it and then asked his permission to release it. Did you read the article
Too soon
Way too soon :)
Thats my point. I asked was he in inspired. Read my comment again
Jayyyzus that picture….that piece of wood…..he’s lucky he survived….hope he recovers fully and fair play to him for warning others of the dangers, I’ll certainly think twice after seeing that pic!
We all know its the slow dozy drivers that cause all the accidents! They might’nt be in them but trying to get around them is the hard part! If you’re a crap driver or are in no real hurry …pull over for others and get out of the way!! That includes you cyclists!
*apart from all the ones they don’t cause…
There is an element of truth in what you say though:
An inconsiderate driver + an impatient driver = a dangerous combination
Parking lights are exactly that, for parking at the side of the road.
Other than that, they serve no purpose.
It’s dipped headlights that should be used.
They didn’t need his permission to publish the photograph.
Same as permission is not needed to take a photograph of anyone or any thing in a public space.
Although common courtesy would always be nice.
Passed a dope with LED daytime lights on at night!!! I wonder do they realise that they have no rear lights on…doubt it…
Also when parked on dark country roads use your parking lights. On most German cars with the ignition off & keys removed, when you move the indicator lever to the right turn signal position, the side lights on the RIGHT side only of the car will illuminate (and vica versa if you move lever to the left) .. This will conserve power for extended stops and ensure that all road users can see you parked up.
All cars should have this great safety feature.
Rainy season has just started here in San Francisco (wipers on, lights on, it’s the law).. And Dawn/Dusk also :)
School jackets either have no reflective or a single extremely thin line running across the upper back only wtf
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