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02/02/2004
Police to show 'yellow card' to mobile motorists
Police are set to show the ‘yellow card’ to drivers who use a hand-held mobile phone while driving on Northern Ireland's roads.
From 1 February new legislation prohibits the use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Initially, offenders will be subject to a £30 fixed penalty, however this can be increased to a maximum of £1,000 if the matter goes to court (£2,500 for drivers of vans, lorries, buses and coaches).
Commenting on the legislation, NIO Minister, Angela Smith said: "Research has shown that if you drive and use a mobile phone, you are four times more likely to have a collision and nine times more likely to be in a fatal collision.
"I urge motorists to stop using their mobile phones while driving. We want them to drive safely and not risk their own lives or the lives of others."
Inspector Rosemary Leech of the Police Service’s Road Policing Development Branch, said the new law would help bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK, where the law changed in December.
"While there has been significant coverage in the press about the new legislation, police are allowing the next month as a period for advice and warning," Inspector Leech said.
"This is not carte blanche for motorists to continue to use their hand-held mobile phones, without any thought. It is to give them time to get used to the fact that they must not use hand-held mobile phones while driving.
"And of course, if police think that the way someone is seen using a mobile phone might be a danger to themselves and others, they will consider the offence in the light of this new and existing legislation.
"This is all about making Northern Ireland’s roads safer and about reducing the numbers of people killed or seriously injured," she added.
(MB)
From 1 February new legislation prohibits the use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Initially, offenders will be subject to a £30 fixed penalty, however this can be increased to a maximum of £1,000 if the matter goes to court (£2,500 for drivers of vans, lorries, buses and coaches).
Commenting on the legislation, NIO Minister, Angela Smith said: "Research has shown that if you drive and use a mobile phone, you are four times more likely to have a collision and nine times more likely to be in a fatal collision.
"I urge motorists to stop using their mobile phones while driving. We want them to drive safely and not risk their own lives or the lives of others."
Inspector Rosemary Leech of the Police Service’s Road Policing Development Branch, said the new law would help bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK, where the law changed in December.
"While there has been significant coverage in the press about the new legislation, police are allowing the next month as a period for advice and warning," Inspector Leech said.
"This is not carte blanche for motorists to continue to use their hand-held mobile phones, without any thought. It is to give them time to get used to the fact that they must not use hand-held mobile phones while driving.
"And of course, if police think that the way someone is seen using a mobile phone might be a danger to themselves and others, they will consider the offence in the light of this new and existing legislation.
"This is all about making Northern Ireland’s roads safer and about reducing the numbers of people killed or seriously injured," she added.
(MB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A largely cloudy day with occasional rain. Turning drier and brighter for a time in the afternoon and feeling very mild. Light southerly winds becoming strong with gales later along the County Down coast. Maximum temperature 13 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, these heavy at times. Strong southerly winds, with gales in the evening across eastern counties, becoming westerly later. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
