ONE IN 10 Cork city motorists uses a hand-held mobile phone while driving, making them the biggest offenders in a Road Safety Authority survey.
The figure was even higher at one part of the city where one in five drivers was observed using a mobile phone at MacCurtain Street/Lower Glanmire Road, the study found.
The observational survey by Amárach was based on observations of more than 30,000 drivers at 45 locations in seven counties during December 2009.
On average one in 20 (6 per cent) motorists was observed holding a phone while driving.
Motorists in Co Kildare were the second biggest offenders with 9 per cent observed using hand-held mobile phones.
The worst part of the county was at the entrance to NUI Maynooth where one in five drivers (16 per cent) was using a mobile phone.
Dublin drivers were more compliant with 4 per cent of city centre motorists using a hand-held mobile phone. The same result was found for Galway city.
Athlone motorists were least likely to use their mobiles while driving (2 per cent). They were followed by motorists in Dundalk and Drogheda (at 3 per cent).
Limerick city was above average with 7 per cent of drivers using a hand-held mobile phone while driving.
The results were described as “extremely worrying” by the authority’s chief executive Noel Brett.
Drivers are four times more likely to crash if they use a hand- held mobile phone while driving, he said.
“By continuing to use your mobile phone while driving, you are risking your life, the lives of your passengers and the lives of others. And no phonecall is worth that risk,” he said.
The results were an underestimate of the problem because they do not capture those who are texting or those using hands-free kits, Mr Brett said. Using a hands-free mobile phone has shown to be no safer than a hand-held phone while driving, Mr Brett added.
The authority is urging drivers to switch off their phones or place them on silent and to instead regularly stop their car to check messages.
Mobile phone use while driving is the second highest penalty points offence in Ireland after speeding.
More than 90,000 drivers have been given penalty points for the offence since it was introduced in 2006. Some 16,000 of these points have been given in the past year.
Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey yesterday said it was unsafe and illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. He warned motorists that they faced a €60 fixed charge notice and two penalty points if caught. This could go up to €2000 and four penalty points if convicted in court, he added.
