Use of mobile phone while driving may need to be upgraded to a more serious offence, minister warns

Last year, three people died in fatal collisions on Irish roads over the August bank holiday, while there were 12 serious crashes reported.

New legislation could be brought in to tackle the use of mobile phones in vehicles, the Minister for Road Safety has said, as people were urged to avoid distractions while driving this bank holiday weekend.

Minister of State James Lawless also referred to a worrying use of cocaine among drivers on Irish roads as he, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the gardaí made their August bank holiday road safety appeal.