NI to ban using mobiles while driving

The use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving in Northern Ireland is to be outlawed early next year, it was announced tonight.

The new law will be introduced from February 1 , the Northern Ireland Office said.

Penalties for breaching the law will result in a fine coupled with penalty points on the driver’s licence.

Announcing the move the NIO said that the use of a hand held mobile phone while driving “undoubtedly put road users at risk” and the extension of the regulations would be a positive step towards reducing road accidents.

The use of a hands-free kit will be allowed.

Some road safety experts say even that is not enough and does not lower the risk of an accident.

The AA Motoring Trust says drivers using mobiles – whether with a hands-free kit or not – are four times more likely to have an accident than those not using the phone.