Mobile phone penalty points up

In the last 12 months the number of penalty points issued for driving while using a mobile phone has increased by 70% from 44,624 (31st July 2008) to 75,040 (31st July 2009).

The offence has now overtaken seatbelt offences to become the second highest penalty point offence, after speeding, out of a total of 41 penalty point offences.

The figures were published by the Road Safety Authority as its mobile phones and driving radio advertising campaign ‘Switch Off, Before You Drive Off’ takes to the airwaves in September.

To highlight the dangers of driving while using the mobile phone a 30-second radio ad will run on all national and local radio stations throughout September. Further information can be found in the RSA’s information leaflet ‘Mobile Phones and Driving’ which can be downloaded from www.rsa.ie