Mobile Phone Penalties

mikeybhoy

In my opinion the penalties for using a phone whilst driving are far too lenient. If a bus driver is caught on the mobile whilst driving it's instant dismissal in any of the major companies. Personally I think anyone caught on the phone should be given a 3 month ban and anyone caught texting should be given a 6 month ban. 3 points and a €60 fine is not a real detterant. People using the phone are just as dangerous as drink drivers.

Andrewf20

I dunno. I find interaction with touch screens in modern cars to be very distracting also. I prefer the old analog buttons. I'd like to see some stats on accidents to see how common an issue it is. Is hands free really much different to handheld.

But I agree, anyone texting at any sort of speed deserves a roasting.

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058258579/mobile-phone-penalties

So what should the penalty be for someone licking their 99 while driving? Defo full year ban.

ofcork

Phone use is gone out of hand see a guy today looking down at the phone while driving and straight through a red.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119465781#Comment_119465781

A lad in a Land Rover pulled out in front of me at a junction yesterday forcing me to slam on the brakes whilst I had a green light whilst on the phone. After this he continues on the phone as if nothing happened.

Yeah the new monitors on new cars are distracting but these should be used whilst the vehicle is stationary or by passengers.

As for hand free being a distraction potentially it is. But there has to be a line somewhere and your not actually holding a phone when using a hands free is it any different to having a conversation with a passenger/s. Ideally your only pressing a button to answer and hang up similar to turning on/off the radio.

mikeecho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058258579/mobile-phone-penalties

..

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119469571#Comment_119469571

So give me one good excuse for being on the mobile whilst driving bar maybe phoning 999

mikeecho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119469631#Comment_119469631

I just think the penalties you suggest are not appropriate.

Too harsh a penalty, will result in more cases going before the courts. Just look at the drink driving laws. People are more likely to plead guilty to murder than to a drink driving charge. Sec 49 / Sec 4 of the RTA, is singlehandedly the most contested piece of legislation.

Vic_08

The main problem, as with just about every other law in this country is enforcement. As long as the chance of getting caught remains virtually zero it won't matter what the penalty is, the people who ignore the law will keep ignoring it.

Henry Ford III

I always thought that smoking whilst driving was dangerous.

wonski

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119488908#Comment_119488908

Not as dangerous as eating ice cream imo.

They can't legislate every possible scenario, though.

Maybe not being in full control of vehicle controls or something like that would cover the above.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477263#Comment_119477263

If I’m a Garda and that for 7 hours today, my only responsibility is driving around looking for people using phones while driving….

im guessing I’m issuing about 20 fixed charge notices..

btw it’s far more dangerous then eating an ice cream, you don’t have to look at an ice cream to consume it…

enforcement is a problem

_Kaiser_

I don't get why there are so many people driving around holding phones in new/newer cars that likely have Bluetooth as standard - but then I did encounter a lad on a N-route leading onto a motorway grade dual carriageway last night with no rear lights on an i40 because he obviously doesn't know how DRLs work! Flashing headlights at him did nothing either as he just pulled over but continued on.

I think the newer touch panels in cars would be the same if not worse than phones as many/most basic controls are buried within touchscreens now, yet they're legal.

bladespin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119488976#Comment_119488976

Guessing you're a non-smoker, having a hot tip fall into your lap at 100kmh would be considerably more distracting than a dripping cone IMO.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491518#Comment_119491518

Definitely this, WTF?? Every new car I've seen in the past 10 years comes with a minimum of Bluetooth capability.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477263#Comment_119477263

This is the problem, the penalty is irrelevant if there is no enforcement.

I live in the Tallaght area and its got to the stage where I have to consider what is behind me before stopping at a red light, I can easily stop but most people now aren't so I have to risk running a red or a rear collision if I have vehicles behind me.

kirving

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119492461#Comment_119492461

Agreed 100%. Managing traffic behind you is one of the most important skills to keep you safe.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119492907#Comment_119492907

Yep, and it's very distracting when you've someone behind who seems determined to get into your back seat,or those looking for a gap to overtake on a bad road with traffic ahead anyway.

My other one is those mini roundabouts which are still marked for 2 lanes on approach despite there being not enough room for both on the roundabout itself. I always straddle both "lanes" rather than risk being sideswiped as has nearly happened a few times.

gzoladz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477263#Comment_119477263

This is exactly it. I have seen dashcam footage made available to Gardai where you can see drivers on the phone while driving, readable plates, etc, and what they tell you is that they will prosecute the one who has the footage due to GDPR. Say no nore.