Gardaí see 25% rise in drivers using phones in Cork

The Cork county Garda division recorded a 25% year-on-year increase in the number of drivers caught using their mobile phones, with 199 people caught on their phones in the last three months of 2023 compared to 248 in the last quarter of 2024.

Thais has prompted Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú to plead with drivers to put down the mobile phone as Garda figures show a spike in the number of drivers caught driving whilst holding a mobile phone.

Ms Ní Mhurchú welcomed the fact that Garda divisions including Cork city, recorded year-on-year decreases in the number of people caught driving using their mobile phones.

She called for increased use of unmarked Garda lorries, which she said have proved extremely effective at catching drivers using their mobiles.

“The high cab trucks are accompanied by a patrol car or an unmarked interceptor vehicle and offer gardaí a bird's eye view of bad behaviour on our roads,'' she said. 

She also suggested discounted insurance policies for drivers who are willing to install or use technology that blocks phones whilst driving.

It comes as the most recent monthly report from the Road Safety Authority from April 2025 found that over 30% of all drivers currently with penalty points on their licence were based in Cork and Dublin.

A total of 51,360 drivers currently have penalty points in Cork - 45,263 people received penalty points after being caught speeding and 6,094 were caught driving while holding a mobile phone.

Speaking to The Echo, Social Democrats Cork South Central TD Pádraig Rice called the new figures “concerning”, saying that they: “point to ongoing driver complacency, despite the appalling carnage on our roads.

“It underscores the need for the government to adequately resource the Garda Roads Policing Unit and the importance of promoting responsible driver behaviour through high profile public awareness campaigns.

“It is also crucial there is proper garda enforcement to ensure that those receiving a six-month driving ban after obtaining the maximum number of penalty points fully comply with the law and stay off our roads.

Labour party Cork City councillor Peter Horgan added: “It’s welcome that the penalty point system is having an impact.

“But we still need to see an increase in The Road’s policing unit in the Cork City division, and we need to see a quicker rollout of the enforcement cameras that can catch and penalise those drivers who break red lights and ignore safety mechanisms at junctions in our city. That is a crucial piece in addressing driver behaviour.”