Bausch wants harsher punishments for traffic violations

(CS) Luxembourg Infrastructure Minister François Bausch has announced that he wants to make changes to the driver's licence point system and finally make progress to install permanent speed cameras in the Grand Duchy.

Speaking at a presentation ahead of the 50th “Autofestival” on Monday evening, Bausch pointed out that 2013 was “a very bad year” for road safety, with 42 people losing their lives on the Grand Duchy's roads.

This was a significant increase from the year before, when 34 people were killed in road accidents. In 2011, this number was at 33.

The start to 2014 has already been marred with several severe accidents resulting in the deaths of several motorists and one pedestrian.

Bausch said that he would like to see more points subtracted from driver's licences for a series of offences, such as speeding, driving drunk, not wearing a seat-belt or driving while using a mobile phone.

“Road safety is, for me, a national priority,” Bausch said, promising a round-table discussion “with all actors concerned” in February with the plan to create an action plan on how to improve circulation.

Bausch also said that he wants to conduct a screening of Luxembourg's roads to determine how many permanent speed cameras are needed and where they should be placed. The minister added that he wants to quickly make a decision.

However, he said that mobile speed cameras are more important as they include “the element of surprise.”

The "Autofestival" starts on February 1.

Reporting by Maurice Fick