Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Apr 2000

Vol. 518 No. 4

Written Answers. - Traffic Offences.

Richard Bruton

Question:

231 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prosecutions in the past year for the use of mobile phones while in charge of a vehicle, failure to wear seat belts and other motoring behaviour which endangers safety; and if he has satisfied himself with the level of observance of a safe code by motorists. [11919/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

I am informed by the Garda authorities, that under current road traffic legislation, there is no specific offence of driving while using a mobile phone. Furthermore, I am informed that there are no statistics in relation to the number of prosecutions for using a mobile phone while driving. I should say, of course, that the question of the introduction of legislation banning mobile phone use while driving is a matter for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, who is responsible for all road traffic legislation.

If, however, the use of a mobile phone causes a driver, while driving, to do anything which could be regarded as dangerous or careless, a charge of dangerous or careless driving may be brought against the offending motorist.

I have been assured by the Garda authorities that the Garda road safety campaign, that is, Operation Lifesaver is ongoing and the Garda is continuing to focus on the key offences of speeding, drink driving, seat belt offences and dangerous-careless driving and, in this regard, details in relation to the number prosecutions in respect of certain traffic offences for the years 1996 to 1998 are set out in the tabular statement hereunder:

Offence Type	Prosecutions 1996	Prosecutions 1997	Prosecutions 1998
Non Wearing Seat Belts	6,293	9,280	9,731
Dangerous Driving	2,476	3,036	3,391
Careless Driving	3,210	3,413	4,397
Driving without Consideration	2,027	2,474	3,234
Non Conformity with Traffic Lights	873	2,716	3,292
Drink Driving	5,975	7,616	8,290
Speeding Prosecutions	35,841	29,725	25,742
Speeding – Fines on the Spot Issued.	N/A	71,337	131,931

Details of prosecutions in respect of 1999 are not yet published. However, the provisional statistics for speeding fines on the spot show that the gardaí issued in excess of 170,000 fines on the spot for speeding and, approximately, 25,000 tickets for seat belt offences. I have been assured by Garda authorities that Operation Lifesaver is being monitored constantly by the Garda National Traffic Bureau and where changes to enforcement tactics are deemed necessary they are introduced.

The continuous enforcement of the traffic legislation and the full implementation of all the elements of the Government's National Strategy on Road Safety over the period 1998 to 2002 will, I believe, bring home to motorists the need to exercise greater care on the roads and to obey the traffic legislation.