Almost 1 in 4 drivers check mobile phone while driving

Almost a quarter of drivers (23%) admit to checking mobile phone notifications while driving.

The statistic was revealed by Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána as they made an appeal to drivers to not use their mobile phones while driving.

The Driver Attitudes & Behaviour Survey 2021 found that 37% of motorists surveyed were not practising safe mobile phone behaviour when driving, which includes turning off your mobile phone, switching it on silent, or keeping it out of sight.

International research has revealed that drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a collision if they use their mobile phone while driving. Despite this, the RSA survey also found that 19% of respondents use their phone to read messages/emails, while 13% write messages/emails from behind the wheel. In addition, 12% of motorists admitted to using their phones to check social media.

Eliminate

“The evidence around the dangers of using your mobile phone while driving is very clear, with drivers four times more likely to have a collision when on their mobile. The new government Road Safety Strategy 2021 to 2030 has identified the need for a review of the penalties for road traffic offences, including mobile phone use while driving," said Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton.

"Nobody can claim that they are not aware of the dangers of using a phone while driving. Therefore, if we are to achieve a 50% reduction in deaths and serious injuries by 2030, plus achieve Vision Zero by 2050, we need to seriously look at such measures to eliminate this dangerous behaviour”.

The penalty for using a mobile phone, which includes supporting it with any part of your body, while driving is an automatic three points on your licence and a €60 fine. If you accumulate 12 penalty points (7 for novice and learner drivers) in a three-year period, you will be disqualified from driving for 6 months.

Assistant Commissioner, Paula Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, An Garda Síochána outlined: "In 2021 a total of 22,310 notices were issued for ‘Driving a vehicle while holding a mobile phone’. When driving our attention should be focused on one thing only – driving safely and not on a mobile phone. As road-users, we have a responsibility to ourselves, our passengers, and other road-users to keep our attention on the road, so I would encourage all road-users to switch off before you drive off.”

To date in 2022, a total of 86 people have died on Irish roads, 27 more than the same period in 2021.