Mobile phone drivers could lose licence

Motorists who use mobile phones while driving are to face penalty points leading to a possible loss of their licences under the terms of plans being prepared by Transport Minister Seamus Brennan.

At present, only speeding drivers and those not using seat belts are subject to penalty points.

But Mr Brennan said today that speaking on hand-held phones, as well as careless driving and dangerous overtaking, would also be embraced by the points system later this year.

There are also to be more speed cameras, random breath tests for drink-driving and reform of the provisional driving licence-set up that in some circumstances currently permits unqualified drivers on the roads unaccompanied.

As well, the Government is to introduce a Driver Testing and Standards Authority and publish a new Road Safety Strategy.

Figures released by Mr Brennan today showed that more than 93,000 drivers have picked up penalty points since the scheme was established 14 months ago.

Of drivers caught for ignoring the rules, 439 have accumulated six points or more and four drivers currently have 10 – just two points short of the automatic disqualification.

Most points have been incurred for speeding, although more than 2,000 have collected them for seat belt offences – including 177 who did not have children properly restrained in their vehicles.

Since the introduction of penalty points for drivers, in October, 2002 there have been 68 fewer deaths than during the corresponding period in the previous 14 months.

And during 2003, the number of road accident fatalities, 342, was the lowest since 1965.