Wed, 25 May 2005

A new bill to be introduced to Parliament could help to reduce insurance costs for Northern Ireland motorists.

The Road Safety Bill outlines a number of initiatives designed to reduce the number of accidents and ensure that reckless drivers are adequately penalised.

The Department for Transport is proposing that a system of graduated speeding penalties be introduced as well as higher fines for a number of offences such as driving whilst using a mobile phone, careless and inconsiderate driving as well as punishing those who drive an unroadworthy vehicle.

"These measures will tackle bad and dangerous driving whilst making penalties fairer with graduated penalties for speeding," said transport minister Alistair Darling.

It is hoped that the measures will reduce the number of annual accidents on Northern Ireland roads and mean that insurance claim rates will fall.

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