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[Article] New Year fines for those who drive and phone

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  • 07-12-2003 9:51pm
    #1
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 78,436 ✭✭✭✭


    http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/2105890?view=Eircomnet
    New Year fines for those who drive and phone
    From:The Irish Independent
    Sunday, 7th December, 2003
    EOGHAN WILLIAMS

    SEAMUS Brennan plans to introduce a mobile-phone ban for drivers virtually identical to new laws enforced in Britain this week.

    Mr Brennan has not finalised the legislation but officials say it will be designed to stop the practice of driving "with a telephone in one hand and a steering wheel in the other".

    The ban will not extend to hands-free phones or two-way radios and the emergency services will be exempted.

    Drivers will face three months in prison if they are caught for a third time using a hand-held phone. First-time offenders will be fined €190 and given one penalty point and the fine will rise to €434 for a second offence, if the forthcoming bill is passed.

    It is understood a hand-held device will be defined as something that "is or must be held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call". This means a driver holding a phone between their ear and shoulder will still be breaking the law.

    The only occasion when someone in the driving seat of a car will be allowed to use a hands-held mobile is when the car is parked in a safe place with the engine turned off.

    While no anti-mobile legislation is on the statute book, drivers can still be charged with driving without due care and attention for a loss of concentration at the wheel caused by using a mobile.

    It is expected the use of hand-held phones will be made illegal in the first half of next year.

    The National Safety Council (NSC) has welcomed the proposed new regulations, which will be published in the New Year as part of the Road Traffic bill, 2004.

    A spokesman said a NSC study revealed one third of drivers who use hand-held phones admit being involved in an accident or a near-miss with the car in front.

    Safety experts say drivers making calls on hand-held mobiles are six times more likely to have an accident than those who do not answer their phones. Hands-free devices increase the chances of having an accident threefold.

    Only hands-held calls will be banned when the legislation comes into force.


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