Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Sport
Bye bye, Davy, Davy, bye bye »p24
Drivers warned over phones at the wheel
Picture: jason clarke
by joanne ahern
What? I didn’t say anything… President Michael D Higgins shares a joke with architect George Boyle and a model dinosaur seemingly lost for words as he opens the Fumbally Exchange flagship building on Dublin’s Dame Lane yesterday. Founded in 2010 by Ms Boyle at the depth of the recession, this not-for-profit organisation offers low-cost office space and collaborative opportunities for creative businesses
ALMOST 10,000 drivers were caught using their mobile phones while behind the wheel during the first three months of this year. The figure suggests an increase in detection, with records showing 28,000 motorists apprehended for the offence for the whole of last year. John Twomey, Garda assistant commissioner in charge of the force’s National Traffic Bureau, said the prevalence of phone use while driving is unacceptable. ‘We all know how distracting mobile phones can be in any situation, except in the car it can have fatal consequences,’ he said. ‘Driving requires 100 per cent concentration – it’s as simple as that.’ Gardaí will mount a countrywide operation tomorrow and on Friday to catch offending motorists and warn others of the dangers involved. They say using a mobile while driving makes you four times more likely to be involved in an accident. Currently, offenders face two penalty points and a €60 fine payable within 28 days, but from May 1 anyone caught texting or ‘accessing information’ on their phones – even if it is in a cradle – will face a mandatory court appearance and a fine of up to €1,000 for a first offence. ‘In the first three months of the year, nearly 10,000 drivers have been detected holding a mobile phone whilst driving,’ said Mr Twomey. ‘This is not acceptable or conducive to road safety. The choice is yours. To avoid penalty points, a fine, or worse – be involved in a road traffic collision – always put the phone away when driving.’
A world first...
UNLIMITED FREE CALLS to all Lycamobiles in Europe, USA & Australia with any top – up
For more information, FREE SIM and a FREE flight offer visit:
www.lycamobile.ie Austrailia
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
UK
USA
Promotion is valid from 10-03-2014 to 31/05/2014. New and existing Customers must top-up to qualify for the promotion and will receive free Lycamobile to Lycamobile calls to any Lycamobile for 30 days from date of top-up. Customers must maintain a minimum balance of one cent. Offer is valid for personal use only. After the 30 days free calls the customer must top-up again to continue the free calls otherwise the customer will be charged at the standard tariff. International calls are billed per minute. This promotion is only available to Lycamobile Ireland customers and is not applicable to roaming calls.
Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it