Ban on mobile use by drivers in force

Drivers who hold mobile phones while driving will be liable to a maximum fine of €2,000 and up to four penalty points for each offence from today.

The only defence for the use of a hand-held mobile phone in vehicles will be where a driver must contact the emergency services, using the numbers 999 or 112 for the Garda, fire service or ambulance, coast guard and mountain rescue services.

The ban on use of mobile phones does not apply to hands-free phones in vehicles.

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen has provided for the extension of penalty points for hand use of mobiles in the Road Traffic Act 2006.

A driver who is detected committing a mobile phone offence will have the option to pay a fixed charge of €60 within 28 days from the date of issue by gardaí of the fixed charge notice, or €90 if paid within the next 28-day period.

Two penalty points will also be incurred in those circumstances.

A driver who is convicted in court of a mobile phone offence will have four penalty points endorsed on their driving licence.

They will also be liable to a fine of up to €2,000.

"Road safety is paramount and the holding of mobile phones while driving is a feature that I want to stamp out," Mr Cullen said.

A recent US study found that holding a mobile phone while driving has the same adverse impact on driving capacity as drinking a vodka.