Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Leo Varadkar, is set to introduce a raft of new penalty point offences according to reports in the national newspapers.
In total sixteen new offences would appear to be on the table and while not all of the offences have been announced we do know that the Government is planning to tighten up seatbelt laws, making it offence for a rear-facing baby seat to be used next to an airbag and the introduction of new regulations regarding children in commercial vehicles.
Motorists who drive off without having a clear view out of the windscreen will be liable for points in future, as too will those who do not have a full complement of working lights.
Bizarrely, a full ten years after the introduction of the penalty points system, only now will motorcyclists who ride without a crash helmet be hit with penalty points.
"Each measure we take to advance road safety increases the likelihood that lives will be saved," said Minister Varadkar. "This Government has made road safety a priority and we will continue to focus efforts on saving lives in 2012."
It is also reported that the Minister is mulling over the idea of increasing the penalty for common offences - such as speeding, or driving while using a mobile phone - from the currently applied two to three points.