Dail to debate PARC’s Hit and Run proposals

 

Deputy Dooley
Deputy Dooley

The Dáil will debate Fianna Fail proposals to crack down on hit and run drivers today.
The Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has accepted the principle of the Fianna Fáil Bill introducing tougher penalties for those caught fleeing the scene of an accident.
The campaign has been led by Donegal based road safety group PARC.
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Transport Timmy Dooley commented, “This is about removing any incentive for a driver to leave the scene of an accident. By fleeing the scene, a hit and run driver is putting lives at greater risk. Under our proposals, hit and run drivers would feel the full rigour of the law.
“Under current legislation, the maximum jail sentence for fleeing the scene of an accident causing injury is just 6 months. In addition to this the gardaí only have 3 hours to find the alleged offenders and test them for drugs and alcohol.
“Under the Fianna Fáil Road Traffic Bill 2013 it would be an indictable offence for anyone to leave the scene of an accident resulting in injury. The offence would carry a punishment of up to 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to €5,000. The time period to find and test alleged offenders would also be radically increased from 3 to 24 hours after the accident”

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