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A COUNTRY-WIDE crackdown on people using mobile phones whilst driving will begin tomorrow with the launch of the National Mobile Phone Operation.
From 1 May, it will be completley illegal to text while driving, with the Transport Minister Leo Varadkar closing a legal loophole around text messaging while driving earlier this month.
Drivers caught texting and using mobiles, even a hands-free kit, will face a mandatory court summons and a fine instead of just penalty points.
Texting
If a driver is caught texting on their phones they could face a fine of up to €1,000 for a first offence, increasing to €2,000 if it is a second offence, with the possibility of a three month jail sentence.
The gardaí operation will take place over the next two days in a bid make drivers aware of the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving.
In the first three months of this year, nearly 10,000 drivers have been caught holding a mobile phone whilst driving.
In 2013, there were over 28,000 people detected holding a mobile phone whilst driving, said the gardaí, the second highest offence detected nationally.
The last national mobile phone operation held on 27 March 2014 yielded a 300 per cent increase in detections above the average daily detection rate.
“It is apparent that holding a mobile phone whilst driving remains a significant issue,” said the gardaí.
Distracting
Assistant Commissioner John Twomey, Garda National Traffic Bureau said:
We all know how distracting mobile phones can be in any situation, , except in the car it can have fatal consequences. Driving requires 100 per cent concentration – it’s as simple as that.
Twomey said that the figure of 10,000 drivers being detected holding a mobile phone whilst driving in the first three months of this year is “not acceptable”.
“The choice is yours. To avoid penalty points, a fine or worse, be involved in a road traffic collision, always put the phone away when driving,” he concluded.
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You really know your in a recession when the bank robbers can’t even afford a car !!!!!
I don’t think bank robbers use their own cars for work.
Shatter’s doing a fine job. He’s effectively castrated the gardaí, emboldened the criminal gangs and gougers. The gardaí are no longer a visual deterrent due to reduction in numbers. You can thank Alan Shatter for that.
Inspector clueless is far too busy telling other countries how to catch crooks.
I dislike Alan Shatter as much as anyone but it’s hardly his fault he has no money to pay for extra guards.
You can thank 14 years of mismanagement of the public finances by FF and the banking guarantee for that.
He had the numbers, nobody was looking for “extra guards”. Instead, he’s culled the manpower within An Garda Síochána by nearly 30%.
There are some vital things that we cannot afford to cut, the front-line emergency services are among those.
I think you’ll find that guards are retiring like all public servants due to being bribed by the government to do so and as there is a recruitment embargo replacements aren’t being hired.
We would therefore need “extra guards” in order to maintain the status quo.
No one has been “culled” as you put it.
Brian,
Taking on more government workers = higher debt and more taxes. You’re happy with that?
No CCTV?
There’s no such place as Princess St.
Hi SMcB – That was the route the gardai had emailed us but you are correct that there isn’t a Princess Street on the map between Fleet Street and Aston Quay. There is a Prince’s Street in the city centre but it’s up near City Quay so that doesn’t make sense.
I’m wondering if it is the name of a street that is unmarked on Googlemaps but which runs perpendicular to Fleet Street and onto Aston Quay. I have an idea that I have seen a street sign marked Princess Street at some point. In any case, I’ll try and find out more.
Thanks a mill, Susan
There’s such a place.
Where is Princess Street though, John? I tried looking for it on a map and with someone in the area but I have a feeling they mean Price’s Lane, which is off Fleet Street and runs straight onto Aston Quay. The gardai are currently checking that out.
They probably meant Price’s lane leading onto Aston Quay rather than Princess Street. Princess Street is beside the GPO heading into Arnotts loading bay.
That one that runs into Arnotts loading bay is Prince’s Street (North), Tom – take a look here: http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9LnByaW5jZXMlMmJzdHJlZXQlMmJub3J0aCUyYmR1YmxpbiU3ZXNzdC4wJTdlcGcuMSZiYj01NS45NTU4NTQyNzExNDk2JTdlLTMuMTkwOTAwMDg3MzU2NTYlN2U1NS45NDY3NzE2MTkxNDg0JTdlLTMuMjEwODU1NzIyNDI3MzY=
But in any case, you’re dead right – it’s not near Aston Quay!
Thanks for all the input folks. Gardai are saying now that it is Prince’s Street but I’ve sent them the maps to show that it doesn’t make sense.
I would think we can go with “ran from Fleet Street, down a side street (probably Price’s Lane), and onto Aston Quay”. In any case, if you saw two lads legging it through that end of Temple Bar with their faces covered, get in touch with gardai on the numbers mentioned in the article. Cheers! :)
The city is awash with CCTV. I’d imagine you can’t have enough info to nail these creatures hence the appeal
Would have been the perfect time to use the segways, too.
Pity it wasn’t a Hailo cab as it could have been tracked- but seriously how hard could it have been for Pearse street Gardai to send a car within seconds ( or run) – presume there was an alarm and a number of 999 calls – and have Gardai move towards general area – we’ve seen the taxi mo before – this is mid morning in our geographically small capital city.Its all getting a bit out of control …… as we focus on tourism/ the gathering etc streets need to be safe and more Garda presence necessary
At least the little thugs had enough cash for the fare!! But I doubt they did pay….
No, they stole the taxi. I doubt they cared too much about the meter.
Hold your tongue and you’ll pass for a sage lmfao
ITS student will you change the record. Regardless of the article you spout the same rhetoric everyone.
thats cause he a………
Sean and Johnny,
I ask you why your counter-argument is so weak that you resort to childish slurs?
Gardai have to be paid and I would love to know where this money tree would come from?
There is still no news in Irish media? How come? Are they still in shock?
I hope they stuck to 30kph as they made their getaway!
have your say