Motorists face €435 fine, jail for phone use on the move
Wednesday March 20 2002
The Government stopped short, however, of banning hands-free mobile phone use in cars and lorries despite stating there was "scientific evidence that using any mobile phone is a distraction for a driver".
Last night Road Safety Minister Bobby Molloy announced he will also bring in a new measure which will see any driver caught using a hand-held mobile phone liable for sufficient penalty points for a six months' driving ban.
While the fine and jail terms were introduced yesterday, the penalty points six month driving ban will be introduced in the Dail during the next stage of the Road Traffic Bill.
The move against "one-armed mobile phone bandits", exclusively revealed in the Irish Independent yesterday, was formally announced by the minister last night.
Mr Molloy said the ban did not apply to hands-free mobile phones despite evidence that using any mobile phone was a distraction for drivers. He added: "I would prefer to see all drivers stopping in a safe place to use their phones. I will look at this issue again in the light of further experience."
The minister said there was widespread concern among the public about the use of hand-held mobile phones "and it is inherently dangerous". This view was shared by the Government's High Level Group on Road Safety which accepted that hand-held phones posed a particular risk. The new regulations mean that drivers must park safely before using the phone. The ban also covers emergency services, taxis and other public service vehicles.
Hand-held CB radios, two-way private radio systems and walkie-talkies are also covered by the ban.
The move follows growing concern that use of the phone is a major cause of road accidents because it impairs driver concentration by 30pc, the Garda National Traffic Bureau said.
Gardai revealed that at least two motorists died last year because they were on the phone while driving. Driver error was identified as a contributory factor in 82pc of accidents last year.
- Treacy Hogan
