Tough new laws aimed at clamping down on the use of mobile phones while driving take effect from today (Thursday 1 May). If a driver of any vehicle operating on a public road is caught texting, making a call or accessing data (reading or writing an email) on their phones, they could face a fine of up to €1,000 for a first offence. For a second offence, this increases to a potential €2,000, with the possibility of a three-month jail sentence. A person also cannot hold a mobile phone with any part of the body, including their lap.

Operating a phone while driving is the second highest traffic offence on Irish roads, the first being speeding. According to An Garda Síochána, in 2013, there were over 28,000 people detected holding a mobile phone while driving.