Drivers caught on their mobile phones could face harsher sanctions under a review of the penalty points system.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications met with representatives of the AA, Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the Irish Insurance Federation this morning to discuss the recent report.

Areas up for consideration are an increase in the number of points for speeding, front seatbelt offences and using a mobile phone.

The penalty points system will be a decade old next month.

The Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has announced the review of the scheme.

New driving offences were brought in last month for people who failed to use seatbelts or the correct restraints on children in cars.

Drivers are penalised for putting their child in the front of a car in a rear facing seat and if they do not have their child in “an appropriate child restraint” such as a child or booster seat.

In addition new offences were introduced for bus and truck drivers too for failing to wear a seatbelt and for having an overweight truck.

The AA says more penalty points for talking on the phone while driving are likely. Do you think punishment should be harsher?

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href="https://www.facebook.com/newstalkfm">Newstalk Facebook:

href="https://www.facebook.com/cryanspc">Catherine Ryan Why don’t we all just beat ourselves with sticks!!!!

href="https://www.facebook.com/alanpbourke">Alan Bourke Does any of ever get enforced anyway?

href="https://www.facebook.com/anne.ryan.7923">Anne Ryan You see so many things when people drive, shaving, putting on make up, they should all be given points, accidents are caused by people not paying attention to the road yes there should be more points given.

href="https://www.facebook.com/billyruffian">Kenneth Marsden NAIL ‘EM UP!

href="https://www.facebook.com/thomasmartin.oconnor.1">Thomas Martin O’Connor Automatic six month ban for using a hand held phone whilst driving! No ifs or buts, just enforce it! It’s the only way.

href="https://www.facebook.com/dermot.gallagher">Dermot Gallagher There’s no excuse. Bluetooth hands free options are available for very little.

href="https://www.facebook.com/marcus.o.toole">Marcus O Toole Agreed, I’ve been in a close shave before because of some turkey on her phone and pulling out in front of me! The technology is there so use it… and on that note, I’ve seen plenty of gardai driving while holding a phone and talking, are they exempt? Or have garda cars not got Bluetooth yet???

href="https://www.facebook.com/vic.rattlehad">Diarmuid Murray Gardai are allowed because they are emergency services!

href="https://www.facebook.com/phil.oh.9">Phil Oh anything that makes more money for the banks debts & politicians wages is deeply welcome

href="https://www.facebook.com/phil.oh.9">Phil Oh I’ve seen gardai on their mobiles, scoffing at somebody at the other end, regardless if they are emergency or not, it’s dangerous for anybody to use the bloody phone on the go, Christ, we’re probably guilty of it

href="https://www.facebook.com/brianof">Brian O’Flaherty No I think they should enforce what’s there.