Nine drivers a day caught using their mobile phones at the wheel

MORE than 3,300 people were detected using mobile phones behind the wheel last year — an average of nine a day.

Men were the worst offenders, with 2,791 breaking the law compared to 551 women, according to PSNI motoring offences statistics.

Those aged 30-49 accounted for over half of mobile phone detections (1,749), followed by the 50-69 age bracket (759), while 748 caught were in the 18-29 group.

PSNI Inspector Rosie Leech expressed concern at the figures.

She said: “We know that motorists who choose to use their mobile phone while driving are four times more likely to crash, injure or kill themselves or other people.

“Nothing on your mobile phone should be more important than your responsibility to keep yourself and others safe on the road.

“Please slow down and pay attention to the road and never use mobile phones while driving, or allow yourself to be distracted by them.

“The consequences can be devastating.”

In March Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon announced plans to increase fines and penalty points for offenders.

Using a phone at the wheel currently results in a £60 fine and three points on your driving licence.

Under Ms Mallon’s proposals, that will be raised to a £200 fine and six points, in line with penalties in Britain.

Subject to Assembly approval, this change in legislation will be implemented early next year.

The Department for Infrastructure said: “Evidence shows that using mobile devices while driving is distracting.

“Distraction while driving is one of the main causes of road traffic collisions on our roads, many of those collisions causing serious injury and some resulting in loss of life.

“It is shocking and disappointing that many drivers, particularly males, continue to disregard the law and ignore their responsibilities to other road users by using a mobile phone while driving, putting their lives and the lives of others at risk.

“Any collision caused by mobile phone usage when driving is one too many.”

Overall, there were 45,548 detections for motoring offences in the year up to October 31.

That’s down 10% on the 50,373 detections recorded in the previous 12 months.

The number of motoring offences had been steadily decreasing over an eight-year period, down from 79,796 in 2011 to 49,764 in 2018.

Those aged 30-49 years accounted for over two-fifths of motoring offences in the past year, followed by 18-29-year-olds (37%).

Males accounted for eight in 10 of all motoring offences.

The largest offence group recorded was insurance offences with a total of 8,134 detections — down 3% on the number recorded in the previous 12 months.

Speeding accounted for 18% of all detections, an increase of 290 on 2018/2019.

The highest speed recorded in the last 12 months was 130mph on the Ballyquin Road in Limavady and the M1 Motorway near Portadown.

Almost one in five motoring offences occurred in Belfast, followed by 15% in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon.

Newry, Mourne and Down was the only area to see an increase in detections when compared with the previous 12 months.

‘Using mobile devices while driving distracts’