8,000 motorists fined for using mobiles in North

More than 8,000 drivers in the North have been fined for using handheld mobile phones on the road over the past year, police statistics revealed today.

Fixed penalty fines of £30 (€44) were handed out to 8,261 drivers for using the phones since the ban was introduced on February 1 last year, the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed.

They also warned drivers they could face heftier fines and penalty fines under tougher legislation being considered by the British Department of the Environment.

Inspector Rosemary Leech, of the Road Policing Development Branch, said: “We gave people one month’s grace, offering advice and warning. That means that since last March to January of this year we have issued 8,261 fixed penalty notices.

“This is all about making our roads safer for everyone. It’s about reducing the numbers of people killed or seriously injured. Using a hand-held mobile phone for talking, or worse for texting, while driving inevitably distracts your attention.”

Police statistics showed that in the 17 district command units that make up the North's rural region, a total of 5,211 motorists were caught using mobile phones behind the steering wheel.

In the 12 units that make up the urban region, 3,050 drivers were caught.

Drivers caught using mobile phones currently face a £30 (€44) fixed penalty fine or a fine of up to £1,000 (€1,400) on conviction in a court.

The law also forbids anyone who is supervising a learner driver from using a hand-held mobile phone.