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 that 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.
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 the fixed changes and are convicted in court, their points will increase from four to five points.
"My lovely car now sold onto a very happy new owner.
I still love this marque and I will still be around, preferred selling to breaking, as a great runner and performer"