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ALMOST A QUARTER of drivers admit to checking their mobile phone notifications while driving, according to new research by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
The RSA and the gardaí are appealing to road users to not use their mobile phones while driving following the publication of the research.
According to the Driver Attitudes & Behaviour Survey 2021, 23% of drivers admit to checking the notifications on their phone while at the wheel.
37% of drivers surveyed were not practicing safe mobile phone behaviour when driving, which includes turning off their mobile phone, switching it on silent, or keeping it out of sight.
The survey also found that 19% of respondents use their phone to read messages or emails, 13% write messages or emails from behind the wheel and 12% check social media.
9% of respondents also admitted to using their mobile phone at least sometimes while driving to respond to social media posts, while 7% said they use their mobile phone at least sometimes while driving to take photos or videos to share on social media.
Before setting off to drive, 45% of respondents said they keep their mobile phone out of sight, while 17% said they regularly switch their phone to silent. 6% said they regularly turn off their mobile phone.
63% said they regularly practice at least one of these safe behaviours, but 37% do not regularly practice any of these safe behaviours.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton said the Government need to “seriously look” at measures to eliminate “dangerous behaviour”.
“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,” she said.
“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. Nobody can claim that they are not aware of the dangers of using a phone while driving.”
Driver distraction
RSA chief executive Sam Waide said that driver distraction is thought to play a role in up to 30% of all road collisions.
“Using your mobile is a significant form of driver distraction as it dangerously impairs your ability to monitor the road ahead and react to any hazards in time,” he said.
“That call, text, or social media post can wait until you are parked up safely, whatever you do don’t take a chance and use your phone while driving. If you know someone is driving, avoid phoning them until they have reached their destination or are safely parked up.”
Garda Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, of the Roads Policing and Community Engagement, added that 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.
“In 2021, a total of 22,310 notices were issued for ‘Driving a vehicle while holding a mobile phone’,” she said.
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.”
A total of 86 people have died on Irish roads to date this year, 27 more than the same period in 2021.
And the other 3 are lying
@diarmaid keegan: this is exactly what I came here to say
I remember one of the only times I’ve answered a call via bluetooth, I see a speed van and saying ‘feck I think I’m caught speeding’. Thankfully I wasn’t and ever since that I won’t answer if it rings. Because whether you like it or not, even though it’s hands free you’re not concentrating on driving. I firmly believe there should be some technology in vehicles that renders mobiles inoperable apart from emergency calls. It’s crazy the amount of people calling and texting while driving.
@Declan Moran: agreed. As professional drivers we have usually 2 mobile phones in our cab as well as an electronic messaging /tracking system in order that our planning is done on a minute by minute basis. We want this stuff banned. It’s way too much to be working on while we have a full time job driving. It’s just more distraction. We also want RDCs to supply us with free WiFi so that we can do our necessary planning and communication with our families while wait to be unloaded.
@Declan Moran: but what about all the passengers? And the driver connecting to Google / Apple Maps. Have you thought this one through?
@Declan Moran: just cause you can’t multitask .. you concentrate on driving the rest of us will be grand
@John Kavanagh: certainly hope I don’t meet you on the road
@Allora: I juggle cigarettes and steer with my knees while live streaming….but only sometimes….go on… live a little…
In Dublin anyway it’s very common these days. I have also seen many times the driver watching TV on their phone while driving. These RSA appeals while useful are not going to change many peoples attitudes to this dangerous practice, they simply don’t care enough about others to change.
@Eddie O’Neill: They’re putting others at risk too so it’s even more mind boggling. There’s selfishness that could harm others and leave you fine, which will never surprise me from some people, but this isn’t that
While cycling, I was nearly crushed by a driver as she swerved into the cycle lane. Then I spotted she was looking at her phone. I shouted at her, “You nearly hit me and you’re actually texting”. Her response: “I was only reading a text”!!! You couldn’t make it up.
@Kevin Farrell: The same happened when a cyclist was on their phone and swerved out in front of traffic and I had to brake and swerve to avoid them. You couldn’t make it up.
“12 percent check social media”
How much of a pathetic loser do you have to be to not be able go for a drive without having to browse social media?
No it’s a serious serious problem,and it needs a serious fine or suspension to stop it,which u never will.500 euro on the spot is a start,it’s the only way.I am not sure they realise it’s illegal.
Being a professional driver myself, it’s scary how many times I have glanced at cars passing me out and spied a motorist with a phone in their left hand. If the RSA put a camera onto a truck and drove about all day they would catch loads of clowns. Had a lad texting one day going up the n7 exit ramp bend off the m50 southbound and only I blew the horn he would have been into the side of me.
It’s more like 3 in 4.
This is just as serious an issue as drink/ drug driving, perhaps at times even more serious. And it is ubiquitous, making it all the more serious.
Anyone using a mobile phone while driving should get a mandatory 12 month driving ban, no exceptions, no excuses. That is the only way we can remove this menace and this extremely dangerous behaviour from our roads.
This needs to happen as soon as possible.
I would go further here and require every such driver to resit their test and attend mandatory safety training before being allowed back on the road.
@RBUman1: harsh enforcement is the only way, but Ireland is unable to do that.
This is more dangerous than being over the limit. They need to come down hard on it. What’s so important that you can’t leave the phone alone while you’re driving? That’s just sad.
And the Gardai. I’m fed up seeing them on mobiles when they are driving.
@Karen Delaney: while I agree with you it’s part of their duties.
I rang a guard one time over that and they said they are allowed
They shouldn’t be but unfortunately they are the exception unfortunately
@Karen Delaney: Gardai are permitted to use mobile phones.
https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2006/act/23/section/3/enacted/en/html
@Alan Richard Scott Jr.: Each modern car has a built-in bluetooth connection for mobile phones. At Lidls they have hands-free systems for 15 Euro every few weeks. There is absolutely NO reason and NO excuse to have a phone on the ear while driving.
Personally I have a different perspective.
If you cannot multi-task to the point of using a phone hands free for making and receiving calls or reading a short notification, or listen to a podcast while driving safely, then how can you divide your attention to the required level to be a competent driver in the first place?
After all driving requires simultaneously paying attention to traffic and other road users, paying attention ahead, using your peripheral vision, using your mirrors, occasionaly looking at the vehicles display or clocks, while reacting to the changing road conditions, the actions of other road users and pedestrians.
If you cannot also make a call handsfree or briefly check a notification when safe to do so without driving badly, then you are not a very competent driver.
@David Van-Standen: Well said David but it’s kinda obvious
@Paul Owens: Thanks, but apparently it’s not obvious to the majority of people posting comments on this article, or to the people giving their comments a thumbs up, which is why I stated it.
@David Van-Standen: Irish Drivers are 0% competent in driving. I was a professional driver and on the roads in nearly every country in Europe. Rome and Paris are seen as chaotic, Berlin overcrowded, Warsaw simply dangerous, but that’s all topped by Irish roads and the drivers on it. If you see someone using a direction indicator correctly, it is 100% a foreigner. Someone caring for speed limits? 100% non-Irish. The ability to use the correct lighting. Seems to be rocket science for Irish drivers. But when it comes to rudeness, like showing the finger to people sticking to the rules, Irish are top.
@Claudia Varell: Bit of a generalized statement there Claudia,I am driving 30 years without a hitch,,,, remember the best drivers don’t stick to the rules all the time,,true lots of things in life mmm
The top offenders based on observations over the years while driving and working on roads are:
1 Trades folk – old cheap vans with no Bluetooth and they don’t want the hassle of installing one
2 Mother’s doing the school run in the big wagons – vehicles have Bluetooth but don’t know or care to use it
3 Quarry truck drivers – old vehicles without Bluetooth and quarry operators don’t want to pay for Bluetooth or a decent satnav
4 Young drivers – cause it cool to hold the phone up to their head on speaker
My comments aren’t sexist or aegist just observations so don’t kill the messenger.
3 outa 4 are clearly liars
It’s shocking the amount of young females that use their phone while driving. As if they weren’t dangerous enough behind the wheel.
Only to check where the cheapest petrol is ….
Hah 3/4 are reading this article while driving. Slow starting off while at a red light is the case of a lot of the traffic. Infuriating seeing a red turn to green and back to red with abt three cars go through because each one was on their phone
modern cars should have modern solutions for communication, just like reading a navigation or viewing current speeds…
In this country our enforcers are exempt from prosecution of using their phones, but prosecute the general public for doing so. Bizarre really, lead by example
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