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# Shake Up
Drivers caught speeding today will get more penalty points under new rules
There is a new category of driver on the roads from today – the novice driver.
UNDER NEW RULES drivers who are caught speeding today will face more penalty points.
From today, under a new road safety initiative by the Road Safety Authority, penalty points for speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, holding a phone while driving and not using child restraints will increase from two to three points.
Under the new rules, there is a new category of driver from today – the new driver or novice driver.
Novice drivers
They will have to display the ‘N’ plate to show that they are a a new driver of the road. It must be displayed on the car for two years after they get a licence.
Also, if you are driver who is in their first two years of driving on the roads already, you will not be required to display an ‘N’. These changes only come into effect from today onwards.
Novice drivers also face disqualification from driving for six months if they clock up seven points, in comparison with a fully-licenced driver where the limit is 12 points.
However, if you were a learner driver before today you will remain on the 12 point limit, but learner drivers who get their plate from today will be on the seven point limit.
Alcohol
Similar to learner drivers, novice drivers, will be subject to lower alcohol limits and they are not permitted to act as accompanying drivers to learners who requires a fully-licenced driver to be present in the car with them while driving.
The changes, introduced under the Road Traffic Act 2014, means that anyone who does not pay he fixed changes and are convicted in court, their points will increase from four to five points.
Read: ‘Ignoring’ the system gives speeders an 86% chance of avoiding punishment>
Read: Penalty points are being increased for some offences in time for the bank holiday>
