Mayo drivers are serious phone offenders

A WHOPPING 624 drivers in Co. Mayo were punished under the penalty points system in 2017 for holding a mobile phone while driving, writes Claire McNamara.

That's according to figures issued to The Connaught Telegraph by the Road Safety Authority following a request for data under the Freedom of Information Act.

Commenting on the figures, a senior garda officer agreed that the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices while driving continues to be a problem.

“When you use your mobile behind the wheel, taking your eyes off the road for just a split second can put your own life, the lives of your passengers and other road users at risk,” he commented.

As of June 2017, 14,000 drivers nationally were caught on their mobile phones while behind the wheel. The RSA estimates that distracted drivers could be a factor in as many as 20-30% of collisions in this country.

Increased penalty points for phone/drive offenders were hinted at last autumn by Transport Minister Shane Ross. A difficulty, however, is posed by the fact that modern mobiles have a multiplicity of uses, including satellite navigation.

The minister has outlined that given recent developments in technology it is no longer easy to determine what behaviour falls within the ambit of the current legislation.

Laws which made it an offence to drive while holding a mobile phone were first introduced in 2006.

The law was amended four years ago, making it an offence to send a text message or email while driving.