Penalty points should be increased "to make an example" of those found guilty of road offences.

That's according to the Irish Road Victims Association (IRWA) following three car crashes over the Bank Holiday weekend, including two fatalities.

The RSA is now pushing for emergency legislation to double the number of penalty points given to drivers for speeding and mobile phone use.

Penalty points

On Newstalk Breakfast, IRWA Vice President Leo Lieghio said his organisation has been “screaming for this for years”.

“It needs to be brought in straight away as it’s just gone crazy out there and people are dying on the roads,” he said.

“Eighty families have lost loved ones already this year; if you don’t want to get the penalty points, stick to the speed limit.

“There’s already an allowance built into speed cameras so there’s no such thing as a minor breach and every kilometre over the limit is more likely to cause serious injury.”

A Garda checkpoint: Photo: Tom Douglas

The road safety campaigner said people who drive under the influence “just don’t give a damn” about others.

“There were 137 caught last weekend, but how many weren’t caught?” he said.

“They have no fear of being caught and no fear of being punished when they are caught.

“People like that should have an immediate ban, never mind double penalty points.”

'Drive appropriately'

Mr Lieghio, whose daughter died after she was hit by a car in 2005, said people point blame in the wrong places.

“You have certain TDs in there who want to blame everything under the sun apart from the driver; it’s the bushes, it’s the deer, it’s the road, it’s the road conditions,” he said.

“If the road conditions are bad, you drive appropriately.

“Yes, there are some dangerous junctions out there and they need to be addressed, but come on, hedges and deer killing people on the roads?”

Personal responsibility

He said people should take personal responsibility for their actions on roads.

“The Guards can’t be everywhere and the Government can’t be holding our hands every time we go out on the roads,” said Mr Lieghio.

“All those people caught drunk or drug driving are just ignorant and I have no sympathy for them altogether.

“Whatever penalties they get should be severe and they should get no mercy, be made an example for other people to see they can’t do this anymore.

“People are dying, we’re losing people we love and it’s just not right, nor is it fair.”

Some 79 people have been killed on roads so far this year, up five from this time last year.

Under current laws, drivers will lose their license if they accrue 12 penalty points over three years.

Main image: A Garda checkpoint in Dublin city centre, 24-02-2021. Image: Leah Farrell / RollingNews