Mobile phone-driving danger highlighted

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) today unveiled its “Mobile Phones and Driving” awareness campaign with the warning that those who use a mobile phone while driving are four times more likely to have a crash.

According to Noel Brett, RSA chief executive, drivers and other road-users should be aware of the dangers of using mobile phones when driving.

“Using a mobile phone while driving distracts the driver, impairs their control of the vehicle and reduces their awareness of what is happening around them,” he said.

As of April 30th, 2008, there have been 35,253 offences for holding a mobile phone while driving, the third highest offence behind speeding and driving without a safety belt. Penalty points for holding a mobile phone while driving a vehicle came into force on 1st September 2006.

Any person found holding a mobile phone faces up to four penalty points and a fine of €2,000 if convicted.

Conor Faughnan, corporate affairs manager, Automobile Association, welcomed the initiative. “There is no doubt that in Ireland we are a nation of mobile phone junkies. We simply have to get out of the all-too-easy habit of using the phone while driving,” he said.

The statistical finding for greater likelihood of a crash when using a mobile phone came from research by the Department for Transport UK.

© 2008 ireland.com