Updated 12.30
One in 10 Irish drivers continues to break the law, by using their mobile phone while driving.
Motorway tag company Easytrip monitored more than 1,000 cars during peak commuting times and found that more than 10% of drivers used their mobiles.
Of that 10%, more than half were texting or checking their phones while driving or stationary at the lights, and just under half were speaking on their phones,
- 53% were texting / checking their mobile phone while driving or stationary at traffic lights
- 48% were speaking on their hand-held phone whilst driving or waiting in traffic
Some drivers were seen both texting and taking calls.
Men the big talkers
Men were almost twice as likely to use their phones than women, and men were more likely to be talking whereas women were more often seen texting.
The survey also showed a significant number of trucks and vans drivers, mostly men, were talking on a hand-held phone while driving.
Interestingly, it appears there is a generational divide involved in the type of offence being committed, with middle-aged people (40-50 age group) more likely to be caught talking on the phone while younger drivers (20s and 30s) are more likely to text or check their phones while driving.
Tougher penalties
“Three months on from the introduction of the new penalties for texting, and it seems that a lot of motorists are still ignoring the dangers,” said Ciara O’Brien, General Manager, easytrip. “Holding a mobile phone while driving, whether you’re talking or texting, increases your chance of an accident by up to four times and is lethally dangerous – that is why the new penalties are so severe.”
And, since the beginning of this month, penalty points for holding a mobile phone while driving increased from two to three points, with a fixed-charge of €60 that can lead to a possible €2,000 fine on conviction.
