General
Be careful how you Ring In the New Year!
18, Dec 2008 - 20:11

A campaign to highlight the dangers of driving while using a mobile phone is being launched by Mayo County Council's road  safety unit and supported by the Gardai.

Be careful how you Ring In the New Year!!

A crashed car with a large mobile phone protruding from the window with a "Be careful how you Ring In the New Year" will be parked in one of Castlebar’s shopping areas.

Psychologists have established that drivers under stress are more likely to have an accident and that stress levels increase during phone conversations. Mr Noel Gibbons road safety officer Mayo County Council said drivers who use mobile phones while driving are four times more likely to be involved in accidents. "Driving on Irish roads is dangerous enough roads without the added risk of talking on the phone at the same time," Responsible drivers switch off their phones whilst driving. If you must keep your phone switched on we recommend that you pull over where it is safe and convenient to do so to make or receive a call. This should be in emergency situations only.

If you do use a mobile phone whilst driving the equipment must be totally hands free. This means that the phone should be secured in a phone holder, or by other means, to avoid the need to hold the phone but it is advisable not to use any form of mobile phone while driving. Although most road users are fully aware of the potential consequences of using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving, Gardai throughout Co. Mayo will be clamping down on those who continue to ignore the law, endangering all road users.

As of 30th April 2008, there have been 35,253 offences for holding a mobile phone while driving, the third most frequent offence after speeding and driving without a safety belt. Any person found holding a mobile phone faces up to four penalty points and a fine of €2,000 if convicted.