Varadkar says new road traffic bill will help make Irish roads the safest
The Transport Minister said that the new road traffic bill will help Ireland become the safest country in Europe for road users.
The new legislation will see tougher penalty points for speeding, using a phone and not wearing a seat-belt - and gardaí will be able to conduct new roadside drug tests.
A new novice licence - and N plates - will also be issued to drivers for the first two years after passing their test.
Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said the measures are designed to make Irish roads the safest in Europe.
"Last year was the safest year on records, and this year we are more or less where we are last year," he said.
"Our target is to become the safest country in Europe on the roads, we are currently in fifth place
"By the end of the current strategy, by 2020, we want to be up there with that core group of countries that are safer than we are."
