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AS MANY AS one-in-ten motorists are still using their mobile phone while driving, according to a new survey.
This is despite a ‘legal grey area’ being removed earlier this year which means texting while driving is now illegal.
The number of penalty points for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving rose from two to three on Friday.
A survey by easytrip analysed the habits of 1,000 motorists, and found that more than half texted or checked their phone, while 48% spoke on their phone.
“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,” general manager of easytrip Ciara O’Brien said.
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.”
Younger drivers and women were more likely to text or check their phone, while talking on the phone was the illegal habit of choice for those aged between 40 and 50 and men.
More men than women were found to be using their phone while driving.
Since 1 May this year texting while driving has been illegal, as previous legislation was not clear on the issue.
However, it is still legal to use sat-nav software, and arguably to use a cup while driving, as long as it is done safely.
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Yet another sensible law on the books with no one to enforce it.
How do you expect this to be enforced ?
Gardaí presence, it’s fairly simple one of the mountain bike lads used to cycle around Dublin city near Haddington road knocking on windows pulling lads over
Glen. By a radically new idea of guards on the beat. If a person though they could meet a checkpoint around the next corner or even a guard walking down the footpath they wouldn’t be long changing their habits. I cannot understand why people don’t install hand free phone kits in their car. They’re not expensive and work reasonable well.
The same way they do it in the US. More police monitoring the roads. In most cities in the US have strong police traffic divisions. They monitor the roads for a number vehicle and traffic violations. This also gives police probable cause to run record checks on all drivers if they are stopped. This system aids in rounding up people with warrants and it also let’s people know they are being monitored.
Furthermore, people are less likely to offend if garda presence is known.
As it stands, the Garda Traffic Division is seldom seen.
I have seen lots more women on their mobile while driving than men. Any men I do see on their mobiles are driving vans. Plus,I’ve seen women still actually texting while driving as well. A lot of people don’t actually care,they ll keep doing it until they’re caught. The attitude of most people when it comes to road safety
How about a law that makes it illegal to put on makeup while driving.
There is one, driving without due care and attention
Cops in the UK have been told to confiscate phones from drivers after all road accidents to see if their phones were being used in the run up to the accident.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/492146/Police-seize-mobile-phones-car-crashes-cut-dangerous-deaths
I was driving down the motorway today when some fool came flying past me on his mobile phone.
Technology’s just getting stupid now. !
Flying mobile phones are a little over the top but who am I to judge!
Good morning ted how did u get to work today on your flying can opener ?
Nah I’m stuck in the dark ages driving a car, I wouldn’t trust my phone to get me to work even if it could fly, bit unreliable these days, like an old Fiat!
“one-in-ten” well that’s an April fool joke a few months late, every second driver in town on a busy Friday I reckon, the slower the traffic seems to increase the level of stupidity as far as mobiles in concerned, and not a cop in sight.
I am a biker and i have heard bikes been called coffins on wheels, widow makers and many other things. But the truth is we are the safest road users to other road users. Distractions account for a third of accidents. I can’t talk on the phone, can’t text, can’t check Facebook, can’t drink, can’t eat, can’t smoke, i don’t be looking for songs to put on i don’t be messing with the heating i don’t be getting distracted by kids messing in the back or a wife in my ear. But yet we are still killed by silly car drivers year in year out, and 70% of the time its the car drivers fault. Look twice save a life!!
From ENNIS a County Clare to Dunlin lately I counted 85 drivers of all forms of transport using a mobile phone while driving … Penalty points needs to be more!!!!!!
The Gardai should launch a bounty program where you can claim EUR100 if you capture a photo of a driver using their phone behind the wheel and have the reg.
It would be like old East Germany, a country of spies
Yeah because you would be more likely to use the camera on your phone to catch someone on there phone ! Wouldn’t u clever clogs !!! This is why people like u don’t write law books
How does a still photo prove the car is in operation. Any moron with half a brain will get it thrown out of court.
Anyone who supports citizen snoops is an enemy of the people.
Or maybe take a selfie and catch yourself and claim the 100
How you meant to do that with a second phone
There’s enough rats in the country.
Talking from experience ? Brent
Or send in dashcam footage
People will no change cos a law has been introduced, excuse the shortness I’m driving ;)
The Garda traffic twitter sums it up, they regularly post pics of drivers being stopped No Tax/insurance/NCT license etc and follow with for 3/4 years! How can you drive without them for 3/4 years and not get caught
We’ve all done it folks but I have to laugh when I see people holding the phone under their chin with the phone on speaker mode thinking no one can see they’re on the phone.
People are morons. Darwinism will thin the herd of stupid.
only its the law abiding innocent coming from the opposite direction that gets killed.
Unfortunately. And the morons won’t see it as their responsibility.
One in ten? All the taxi drivers from the taxi line I use uses their phone while driving. Some try to play smart and use the speaker phone while driving.
More crap legislation by Daddy State.. so correct me if i am wrong here but its illegal to ‘hold’ a mobile phone whether its on or off while driving.. but its ok to talk on a handsfree while driving, its ok to operate a satnav while driving provided its done safely(what ever that means). Its also ok i.e not illegal to eat and drink while driving.. there is existing legislation re driving without due care and attention which is good but these anti mobile use laws are a knee jerk reaction by our noddy men in the RSA and the injustice dept..
1 in 10? More like 5 out of 10. Can’t drive through any town without seeing every second person on the phone behind the wheel.
More importantly,where is the law banning smoking in cars where there are children present because I think that is more dangerous
no point having rules if not being enforced
So 90% ARE deterred. That’s a good thing/success no?
Getting caught for a traffic offense in Ireland is a matter of bad luck not good enforcement. And arn’t the Gardai exempt from this? Which, if it’s a safety issue is a bit dumb
no surpise, same as the way that the speed limits dont stop drivers from speeding and breaking red lights
Can’t wait for the legal chasm when Google Glass is commonplace.
Guy behind me in a van on the phone even going around the roundabout.
That report is all over the the map. Talking on your phone is legal, it says more than have texted or checked their phone- those are 2 very different things, esp if you check your phone in a cradle. Somebody looking for a headline, normal enough for the journal
Gerry, texting, & receiving digital data (FB, Journal, Mail) are all illegal even if your phone is in a cradle!
Ever get the feeling that all the Road traffic act is just a tool for insurance companies to charge extra loading on policies. Now we read that Insurance companies are to get access to the penalty point data base to be sure that they are not missing out on charging their customers who don’t disclose their penalty points. This is not about road safety its all about insurance company making money. Why don’t the RSA publish annual reports showing the effectiveness of “new” measures they introduce in a simple before and after display. I’m convinced that the increase in penalty points for speeding it simply as a result of reduced Garda figures for the existing speeding points.
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