Drivers And Mobile Phones

Sir, - I remain baffled by the attitude of Conor Faughnan of the Automobile Association to mobile phone use by drivers (The Irish…

Sir, - I remain baffled by the attitude of Conor Faughnan of the Automobile Association to mobile phone use by drivers (The Irish Times, August 27th).

I would have thought the reason for public concern on this matter, in contrast with public indifference to personal seat-belt use, was painfully obvious.

If a driver or their passengers are unwilling to use seat-belts and as a result take a prompt trip through the car windscreen, they are to a large extent harming only themselves, regardless of the law on the matter or the additional unnecessary strain on the emergency and hospital services. However, the use of a mobile phone while driving puts all members of the public at risk, as your report rightfully points out.

Mr Faughnan doesn't think we need any laws banning the use of mobile phones while driving, on the grounds that existing traffic laws are not adhered to!

READ MORE

It is worrying that the public affairs manager of a high-profile body such as the AA should have such a garbled and puerile view of the purpose of the law.

If we are to adopt his attitude that any law that is not being constantly and widely enforced should be scrapped, there would be precious little on the statute books. There could never be enough garda∅ to ensure full compliance at all times by every citizen with every law.

No, the purpose of legislation on any matter is to protect the wronged party in the event of an infringement of the law and to enable an appropriate charge to be brought if necessary; otherwise our legal system simply couldn't function.

The "logic" of his arguments against mobile phone legislation appears uncannily like that put forward by others in past years against drink-driving laws.

I am equally baffled by the need for time-consuming and costly studies on the use of mobile phones by drivers. It will not be necessary here to regale your readers with lengthy anecdotal evidence on the matter.

A little rational analysis combined with simple arithmetic will do the trick just as well. To simultaneously steer a vehicle, use the indicators (say) and use a mobile phone requires three hands at least; most drivers have just two. - Yours, etc.,

Colm O'Brien, Riversdale Park, Dublin 20.