Fines slapped on 8,200 phone use drivers in NI

Over 8,200 drivers have been fined for driving while using a mobile phone, police revealed today.

A total of 8,261 Northern Ireland drivers have been given £30 fixed penalty fines since the ban on the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving was introduced last February, and police have warned that offenders could face bigger fines as well as penalty points under legislation which is being considered by the Department of the Environment.

Inspector Rosemary Leech, of the PSNI's Road Policing Development Branch, said today: "The law changed on 1st February last year to bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom. We gave people one month's grace, offering advice and warning. That means that since last March to January of this year we have issued 8,261 fixed penalty notices.

“This is all about making our roads safer for everyone. It's about reducing the numbers of people killed or seriously injured. Using a hand-held mobile phone for talking, or worse for texting, while driving inevitably distracts your attention."

Before the law was introduced last year, consultation carried out by the Northern Ireland Office showed that 80% of those who responded were in favour of the ban. This research also showed that drivers using mobile phones are four times more likely to be involved in a collision and that they are distracted both physically and mentally.

"People know that it is both dangerous and illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving and so far more than 8,000 drivers have paid the penalty for doing that. The Police Service is determined to keep the pressure on,” Inspector Leech concluded.

(MB/SP)