Ireland's use of mobile phone use while driving is “bordering on addiction”, according to the Road Safety Authority(RSA) Chair Liz O’Donnell.

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So far in 2015 195 people have died on Irish roads in 2015, a 4 % increase on the same figures last year, this morning’s Irish Examiner reports.

Noel Gibbons, road safety officer for Mayo Council Council, spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning about the problem of drivers using mobile phones and warned that there is a need to make people aware of the “the dangers to themselves and other road users by using a phone”.

The uses of phones goes far beyond making or receiving calls, and includes checking messages, emails and “even cases of people taking selfies while they’re driving”. Over 7000 penalty points were issued for the use of mobile phones so far this year, Mr Gibbons said.

“It’s a huge contributory factor in deaths on our roads,” Mr Gibbons said.

“Put your phone on silent or switch it off while you’re driving,” he said.

There is a “responsibility for everybody” resist the urge to ring or text when you know someone is driving

“If people get in the habit of switching off their phone or putting the phone on silent we’ll have lot less deaths on the road”