Learners who drive unaccompanied are to receive penalty points for the first time, Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe said.

Motorists who overtake dangerously or fail to obey traffic lights face tougher penalties as part of a new clamp down.

Mr Donohoe said the authorities were targeting particularly dangerous behaviour.

“We need to remember that the main purpose of the penalty points system is to concentrate minds and, ultimately, change driver behaviour.

“Learners must be accompanied and must display an L plate as a condition of their learner permit, and should remember that as learners they should exercise caution at all times. The L plate is as much a reminder to them as to other road users.”

The new points offences include learner permit holders driving unaccompanied or failing to display an L plate, and failure by novice drivers to display an N plate. Two points will be due on payment of a fixed charge or four on conviction in court.

Among the offences for which the penalty points have increased are dangerous overtaking, failure to stop a vehicle before a stop sign and failure to obey traffic lights.

The number of points will be increased for nine offences, and a further 14 will attract points for the first time. Two offences which previously involved a court appearance have now been brought within the fixed charge and points system.

The minister added: “Since the penalty points system began, there has been a dramatic fall in the numbers dying needlessly on our roads. However, 2013 showed the first increase in road fatalities for many years, and, unfortunately, we are on course for similar figures in 2014.

“The penalty points system played an important role in reducing road fatalities and improving safety from 2002 on. We need to keep up the pressure to reduce road deaths, and I am confident that the measures which I am introducing today will make an important contribution to achieving that goal.”