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ALMOST A QUARTER of drivers admit to checking their mobile phone notifications while driving, according to new research by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
The RSA and the gardaí are appealing to road users to not use their mobile phones while driving following the publication of the research.
According to the Driver Attitudes & Behaviour Survey 2021, 23% of drivers admit to checking the notifications on their phone while at the wheel.
37% of drivers surveyed were not practicing safe mobile phone behaviour when driving, which includes turning off their mobile phone, switching it on silent, or keeping it out of sight.
The survey also found that 19% of respondents use their phone to read messages or emails, 13% write messages or emails from behind the wheel and 12% check social media.
9% of respondents also admitted to using their mobile phone at least sometimes while driving to respond to social media posts, while 7% said they use their mobile phone at least sometimes while driving to take photos or videos to share on social media.
Before setting off to drive, 45% of respondents said they keep their mobile phone out of sight, while 17% said they regularly switch their phone to silent. 6% said they regularly turn off their mobile phone.
63% said they regularly practice at least one of these safe behaviours, but 37% do not regularly practice any of these safe behaviours.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton said the Government need to “seriously look” at measures to eliminate “dangerous behaviour”.
“The evidence around the dangers of using your mobile phone while driving is very clear, with drivers four times more likely to have a collision when on their mobile,” she said.
“The new government Road Safety Strategy 2021 to 2030 has identified the need for a review of the penalties for road traffic offences, including mobile phone use while driving. Nobody can claim that they are not aware of the dangers of using a phone while driving.”
Driver distraction
RSA chief executive Sam Waide said that driver distraction is thought to play a role in up to 30% of all road collisions.
“Using your mobile is a significant form of driver distraction as it dangerously impairs your ability to monitor the road ahead and react to any hazards in time,” he said.
“That call, text, or social media post can wait until you are parked up safely, whatever you do don’t take a chance and use your phone while driving. If you know someone is driving, avoid phoning them until they have reached their destination or are safely parked up.”
Garda Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, of the Roads Policing and Community Engagement, added that the penalty for using a mobile phone, which includes supporting it with any part of your body, while driving is an automatic three points on your licence and a €60 fine.
“In 2021, a total of 22,310 notices were issued for ‘Driving a vehicle while holding a mobile phone’,” she said.
When driving our attention should be focused on one thing only – driving safely and not on a mobile phone.
As road-users, we have a responsibility to ourselves, our passengers, and other road-users to keep our attention on the road, so I would encourage all road-users to switch off before you drive off.”
A total of 86 people have died on Irish roads to date this year, 27 more than the same period in 2021.
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Build to rent that’s all we hear now whatever happened to rental purchase so giving people responsibility and some pride for their homes hopefully
The locals here will tell you that there is a lot of evidence that SOME people are gaming the system and behaving in ways that are evident they are most certainly not in the ‘ desperately homeless and in need ‘ situations that we come to think of when providing ‘emergency accommodation for people’ – in these politically correct times seemingly if you even comment on this theres a mob wanting to pounce – the millions and millions we are spending on hotel accomodations for SOME is NOT appropriate solution and needs to be addressed. The homeless crisis heading into winter is still a problem and the Govt need to spend more of the money building real property / solutions. The level of abusing the system is getting out of control and of people knew the full scale of how their hard earned income taxes they pay are being wasted and abused it would a national scandal.
@Dave Hammond: Do you know the process that you have to go through to declared as homeless.
People have played all systems for years and there is nothing new about that.
Look at the tax system and the people avoiding paying their due.
Met my future wife there at “Shanks disco” 45 years ago when it was called the Croft’s Airport hotel. Stayed there a few times since.
@Irish big fellow: Tried to leave her back, eh ?
@Irish big fellow: with her or another?
@Irish big fellow Where you a Lifeguard ?? The pool was the dance floor !
@Ciaran Dunne: Shanks Disco @ The Crofton Airport Hotel in the 70s…my brother met his missus there too!…and yes – the dig-out for the dance floor was the proposed hotel swimming pool…I guess the disco was a more luctative outcome than a leisure centre!
@Irish big fellow: Did you go to the fleadh cheoil that night?
Are the “operational reasons” due to an increased demand for emergency housing?
Sounds vague and suspicious!
Perhaps they need the space because they are expecting others to come in later, about 250 or so.
have your say