Irish motorists continuing to use their mobile phones in spite of fines

Irish motorists are using their mobile phones while driving in spite of tens of thousands of fines and penalty points, The Irish Times reports.

The number of fixed-notice penalties issued for driving while using a mobile has remained consistent at around 28,000 cases per year.

Figures released by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan this week show that 28,777 fines were issued in 2015, a further 28,121 in 2016, and 14,046 in the first half of 2017.

Mr Flanagan released the figures in response to a parliamentary question from Independent TD Tommy Broughan.

In 2015, 5,335 of the 28,777 fixed-charge notices or fines (19 per cent) went to court. That proportion stayed consistent in 2016, with 5,230 of the 28,121 cases (19 per cent) going to court.

However, just 10 per cent - 1,428 of 14,046 - of fines issued in the first half of this year have gone or are going through the courts.

Mr Flanagan also revealed that 22,657 of the 28,777 penalty points notices were paid in 2015. Last year, 22,288 of 28,121 were paid, and in the first half of this year, 9,545 of 14,046 were paid.