Over 16,000 penalty points have been issued to Limerick motorists
SINCE January 2010, over 1,160 motorists have been caught by Gardai using a mobile phone while driving in Limerick city and county.
And with reaction time slower by up to 30 per cent, motorists are urged to think first with safety this Christmas and make an investment in a mobile phone handsfree kit and avoid penalty points and fines but most of all, to promote safe driving for themselves and their families.
An Garda Siochana in partnership with Limerick Chamber, are implementing and supporting a road safety initiative to help reduce the incidents of road fatalities and serious injury collisions. Operation Handsfree is a two week promotional period, whereby motorists can avail of discounted rates on mobile phone handsfree devices across Limerick City.
Inspector Paul Reidy has commented on the initiative stating that; “the overriding objective of this special promotion is to confront and challenge errant road-users behaviour through public presence, legislative enforcement, education and partnership with the Limerick business community.
With as many as one in five drivers using hand held mobile phones and one in 10 sending texts while driving, Inspector Reidy adds; “It is anticipated that this initiative has the potential to impact significantly on the number of fatalities and serious injury collisions which are occurring all too regularly on our roads.”
Noting the seriousness of failing to adhere to the relevant road traffic legislation, the Henry Street based garda inspector identifies the harrowing statistics for 2010, “To date, there have been 14 fatalities and 21 serious injury collisions on Limerick roads. This is totally unacceptable and every road user out there is requested not to drive while using a mobile phone and if you must use a mobile always use your handsfree device”.
Limerick Divisional Garda Traffic Corps led road safety initiative Limerick Chamber has collaborated with the Gardaí, negotiating offers with private businesses for the first two weeks of December.
Maria Kelly, CEO of Limerick Chamber went on to state that the Chamber; “was very happy to help co-ordinate this initiative and once again to work together with the Gardaí in the hopes of making Limerick a safer place for businesses and individuals alike. Operation Handsfree is the ideal opportunity for people to avail of discounted rates on handsfree devices and increase their personal safety.”
At the conclusion of this limited promotional period, Inspector Reidy says that “An Garda Siochana will be increasingly focusing their attention on motorists who continue to flout the law in relation to hand held mobile phone use.
“This initiative offers everyone the opportunity to help reduce the risk of being involved in a fatal collision or serious injury collision”.
