The number of people texting or making phone calls while driving has doubled this year, despite tougher new penalties.

The Irish Independent reports that a new Road Safety Authority survey has found that one in 12 drivers now text or make calls at the wheel.

That is up from one in 25 in 2013 - which means there are twice as many drivers now offending, compared with the previous 12 months.

Women were more likely than men to break that law.

The RSA has described the findings as "deeply worrying".

RSA spokesperson Brian Farrell spoke with Newstalk Lunchtime this afternoon to discuss the figures and how stricter penalties and tougher enforcement are coming into play, and why this issue will be a long-term battle, much like that fought to encourage seat belt wearing and eradicate drink driving.

Separately, pedestrians are being urged to make it a new year's resolution to wear a high-vis jacket when they are out walking.

195 people were killed on the country's roads in 2014. It was the second year in a row that saw an increase in road deaths.

42 pedestrians have been killed in road accidents since the start of the year.