10,000 drivers caught using mobiles in 2014

Nearly 10,000 drivers have been caught holding a mobile phone while at the wheel in the first three months of this year — compared to 28,000 drivers for all of 2013.

Garda bosses released the figures as they gear up for a national operation targeting mobile phone use tomorrow and Friday.

The Garda traffic chief, assistant commissioner John Twomey, said that a moment’s distraction from using a mobile phone could have a lifetime of consequences.

“We all know how distracting mobile phones can be in any situation, except in the car it can have fatal consequences,” said the head of the Garda National Traffic Bureau.

“Driving requires 100% concentration — it’s as simple as that. In the first three months of the year, nearly 10,000 drivers have been detected holding a mobile phone whilst driving.

“This is not acceptable or conducive to road safety. The choice is yours. To avoid penalty points, a fine or worse, be involved in a road traffic collision, always put the phone away when driving.”

He said more than 28,000 people were detected holding a mobile phone while driving in 2013, the second highest offence detected ever.

Mr Twomey said this display of bad driving behaviour required continued and prolonged attention.

He said that provisional figures from a previous national mobile phone operation, held on March 27, yielded a 300% increase in detections above the average daily detection rate.

Mr Twomey said there was a fourfold increase in the risk of having a road collision when using a mobile phone.

He said gardaí will focus on the enforcement of relevant legislation over the period in question.

The traffic chief said making a call/holding a phone will result in two penalty points and a €60 fine payable within 28 days — increasing to four penalty points and a €90 fine if paid with 28-56 days.

Referring to a Garda operation over the Easter bank holiday weekend, Mr Twomey said 153 drivers were arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.