MORE THAN 20 per cent of motorists caught using a mobile phone while driving have not been penalised as they did not have an Irish driving licence.
A total of 97,432 fixed-charge notices were issued to people found using a mobile phone at the wheel from between September 2006, when the offence was introduced, to the end of last month, according to figures from the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
Under the Road Traffic Act 2006, motorists caught driving while holding a mobile phone are issued with a €60 fine and two penalty points.
A total of 20,494 penalty notices have been issued to people without an Irish driving licence, compared to the 19,746 notices issued to residents of Dublin in the same period.
Some 9,801 notices were issued to residents of Cork, followed by Kildare (4,451), Galway (3,999) and Meath (3,795). The fewest notices were issued to residents of Leitrim (365), Longford (601) and Monaghan (756).
The RSA said it was working with authorities in Northern Ireland and Britain to develop a system of mutual recognition for penalty points and that it hoped a Europe-wide mechanism could also be achieved.
The figures were released as the authority and An Garda Síochána appealed to motorists to take care over the bank holiday weekend.
Michael Rowand, RSA director, said mobile phones were a major source of distraction, which was a factor in as many as 30 per cent of crashes.
He said motorists were four to five times more likely to be involved in a crash when they used a mobile phone while driving, but that one in five people still admitted to doing so.
Mr Rowand said people using hands-free kits or headsets while driving were also more likely to be involved in a collision. “They are legal but evidence tells us that they are equally as dangerous as your handheld mobile phone. So the message is never use your mobile phone while driving.”
Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey said members of the force would be on the lookout for individuals using mobile phones, speeding and drink-driving over the weekend.
Mr Rowand also said the RSA would take on board comments made by Co Kerry coroner Terence Casey at an inquest into the death of four teenagers.
Mr Casey said he believed the introduction of legislation obliging drivers up to age 25 to have a speed limiter fitted in their cars would result in fewer younger people being injured in similar road traffic incidents.
“We always take any recommendation by a coroner very seriously,” he said. “I think we need to be careful that we don’t penalise young drivers who are obeying the rules of the road and behaving in a responsible manner.”
PENALTIES BY COUNTY
Fixed-charge penalty notices issued by county of residence: September 1st, 2006, to March 31st, 2010.
Carlow 1,570
Cavan 1,198
Clare 1,934
Cork 9,801
Donegal 1,240
Dublin 19,746
Galway 3,999
Kerry 2,010
Kildare 4,451
Kilkenny 2,634
Laois 1,765
Leitrim 365
Limerick County 2,251
Limerick City 769
Longford 601
Louth 1,387
Mayo 1,368
Meath 3,795
Monaghan 756
Offaly 1,552
Roscommon 915
Sligo 981
North Tipperary 1,131
South Tipperary 1,081
Waterford County 1,121
Waterford City 826
Westmeath 2,053
Wexford 2,984
Wicklow 2,654
No Irish licence 20,494
