The DUP MLA Arlene Foster, the Minister for the Department of the Environment, has announced a range of tough new measures to crack down on people driving dangerously.

These include higher penalties for drivers who use hand held mobile phones, or drivers not wearing seatbelts.

From Wednesday, 27 June car drivers who use a hand-held mobile phone will be liable to receive three penalty points and a maximum fine of £1,000. For goods vehicle drivers, the maximum fine is £2,500. Drivers who fail to wear a seat belt and drivers who fail to ensure that child passengers use seat belts or child restraints will also be liable to incur penalty points.

"I stated from my first day in this job", Mrs Foster stated, "that my priority is every single death and serious injury on our roads in Northern Ireland,"

"I am committed to doing all I can to reduce carnage on our roads. That is a serious responsibility, and I plan to tackle it in a serious and responsible manner. Today (Monday) I am announcing the introduction of tough new laws which will come into force from 27th June, and will impact positively on the safety of all road users.

"Almost all road deaths and injuries are preventable', the Minister went on, "and most are caused by the behaviour of road users. These new penalties will send out a clear message to road users that I intend clamping down on irresponsible drivers who think they can ignore the law and put lives at risk."

The new offences and penalties to be introduced in June include:

* Failing to use seatbelts: three penalty points for driving without a seatbelt or for drivers carrying a child unbelted. Fine on conviction for carrying child unbelted in back to increase to a maximum £500.

* Speeding - a fixed penalty of £60 plus three penalty points for ignoring a temporary speed limit (eg at road works) - with 3-6 penalty points, a fine of up to £1,000 or disqualification if taken to court .

* Driving without proper control or driving using a handheld mobile phone: three penalty points; with fine of up to £1,000 (£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles, buses and coaches) and possible disqualification if taken to court. The current fixed penalty of £30 will increase to £60 in July.

* Careless and inconsiderate driving - fine to increase to a maximum £5,000.

* Using a vehicle in a dangerous condition becomes an obligatory disqualification of not less than six months if a similar offence has been committed within previous three years.

* Failure to give the police information which would identify the driver of a vehicle when an offence was committed - penalty points increased from three to six.