Gardaí detect 54 Cork drivers on phones ahead of bank holiday weekend

Gardaí from the Roads Policing Unit in Cork detected 54 distracted drivers with an unmarked Garda lorry cab last week ahead of the bank holiday weekend.

The lorry cab targets drivers using a mobile phone or other electronic devices, and was used this week leading up to St. Brigid's Bank Holiday Weekend in Cork county, on the M8 and the M25 motorways, and in Cork city centre.

Of the 54 people detected using a mobile phone while driving, Gardaí fined one woman for using two phones while driving.

Earlier this week, Gardaí shared that they had fined two drivers €120 each and issued three with penalty points for being spotted using their phones.

Mobile phones are the number one distraction to drivers on Irish roads, with statistics showing that making a call makes a driver four times more likely to be involved in a collision and texting makes a driver 23 times more likely to be involved in a collision.

Chief Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan said: “Driving any vehicle requires 100% attention, 100% of the time. A driver cannot do so if their attention is elsewhere, such as viewing social media posts or texting while driving.

“Any use of a mobile phone or other devices when driving distracts your attention from your driving, and it is highly likely that you will be involved in a collision.” He encouraged all drivers and other road users over the Bank Holiday weekend to concentrate on their use of the roads, adding: “When driving, concentrate solely on your driving, and never drive when under the influence of any intoxicant.

“If cycling or walking on the roads, be aware of your environment and other conditions, such as weather and daylight. Cyclists and pedestrians using the roads at night must be visible to other road users, so please light up and wear reflective clothing.

“Together, let’s make this Bank Holiday weekend a safe and enjoyable weekend for everyone,” he concluded.