28 April 2011
Switch off before you drive off this May Bank Holiday
Mobile phone use leads to increased risk of collisions, warns RSA
97,432 penalty point notices currently issued to Irish drivers
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is warning motorists that using a mobile phone while driving is one of the most dangerous things they can do in a car. The warning, which has been issued by the RSA in advance of the May Bank Holiday weekend, has been echoed by Rose of Tralee Clare Kambamettu and the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD.
There is strong evidence that mobile phone use by drivers, either hand held or hands free, is a major contributory factor in increasing distraction that can lead County Penalty Pointsto an increased risk of collisions. Driver distraction is thought to play a role in 20 - 30% of all road collisions. Using a mobile phone can increase the risk of being in a road collision up to four times. The RSA Mobile Phones and Driving advertising campaign will run on television and radio stations nationwide from Monday 9th May, and in cinemas from Friday 13th May.
Speaking at the launch of the May Bank Holiday road safety campaign in Dublin city centre today, Rose of Tralee, Ms. Clare Kambamettu, said:
“As Rose of Tralee, I have spent the last number of months driving to events all over Ireland. Talking or texting on your mobile phone while driving is incredibly dangerous. It’s not worth risking your life and the lives of others so please make sure to switch off before you drive off this May Bank Holiday weekend.”
Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, said:
"This May Bank Holiday I am asking each and every driver to switch off their mobile phone before driving; don't put your own life and the lives of other people at risk just to take a call or answer a text message. It's irresponsible and it's not worth the risk."
Increased availability of technologies for use in vehicles has caused safety problems relating to driver distraction to escalate. RSA research has shown that the vast majority of drivers (39 – 45%) report using their mobile phones at least sometimes while driving, and it is estimated that at any given moment during the day, two to six per cent of drivers is using a mobile phone.
There are two types of distraction associated with mobile phone use in a car: physical and cognitive. Instead of focussing on the physical and visual tasks required by driving (e.g. steering, changing gears, looking at the road), drivers are focussed on manipulating the phone and / or paying attention to what is on the screen. In addition, the driver’s attention moves away from the road environment to the sounds and topic of the phone conversation.
Mr. Michael Rowland, Director of Road Safety, Research and Driver Education at the Road Safety Authority, said:
“Please don’t use your mobile phone while you’re driving. It creates an unnecessary distraction and it increases the likelihood that you will be involved in a collision. This May Bank Holiday Weekend, as more people take to the roads, we want to ensure that everyone does so safely and with due care and consideration for all road users. Keep your eyes on the road, not on your phone.”
There are 97,432 current penalty point notices issued to Irish drivers for driving a vehicle while holding a mobile phone, according to RSA figures. An Garda Síochána will mount checkpoints this weekend in all Garda Divisions. Assistant Commissioner for Traffic, John Twomey, is appealing to motorists to put safety first this May Bank Holiday weekend: switch your mobile phone to silent mode and put it out of sight when you’re driving.
Assistant Commissioner for Traffic, John Twomey, An Garda Síochána, added:
“Not only is it illegal to use a hand held mobile phone while driving, it is dangerous in the extreme. Over the May Bank Holiday Weekend, Gardaí will be actively enforcing the legislation relating to mobile phones and driving. The message is clear – don’t drive and use a mobile phone at the same time, whether it’s making or taking a call or sending a text message. Leave your phone out of sight and on silent mode to reduce the potential for distraction. If you need to make a call or answer a text message, pull over to a safe place first.”
For further information, please contact:
RSA Communications Office, Ballina: 096 25008
Garda Press Office: 01 666 2071 / pressoffice@garda.ie
Table 1 – Current number of fixed charge notices issued for penalty points offences for using a hand held mobile phone while driving (to end of March 2011)
| County |
Penalty Points |
| Carlow |
1570 |
| Cavan |
1198 |
| Clare |
1934 |
| Cork |
9801 |
| Donegal |
1240 |
| Galway |
3999 |
| Kerry |
2010 |
| Kildare |
4451 |
| Kilkenny |
2634 |
| Laois |
1765 |
| Leitrim |
365 |
| Limerick Co. Council |
2251 |
| Longford |
601 |
| Louth |
1387 |
| Mayo |
1368 |
| Meath |
3795 |
| Monaghan |
756 |
| Offaly |
1552 |
| Roscommon |
915 |
| Sligo |
981 |
| North Tipperary |
1131 |
| South Tipperary |
1081 |
| Waterford |
1121 |
| Westmeath |
2053 |
| Wexford |
2984 |
| Wicklow |
2654 |
| Dublin Co. Council |
19746 |
| Limerick City Council |
769 |
| Waterford City Council |
826 |
| No Driver Number |
20494 |
| Total |
97432 |