Recently the Irish Minister for Transport Martin Cullen TD announced the introduction of a further 30 offences to the existing 4(!) Penalty Points that have been hidden away gathering dust for the last three years. Motorists are seemingly unaware of the tsunami about to be unleashed!

On the first of April 2006, (an appropriate date!), these additional offences will become live and Irish Motorists need to be alert and aware especially since there has also been promised a much greater Garda (Police) presence on the side of the road or in the middle, as the case may be (you know the annual ritual of hauling in speeding drivers to line the coffers!)

One of the omissions during the announcement, much to the dismay of sensible Motorists and indeed The Driving Tuition Profession and Road Safety Groups, was the absence of any Mobile or Cell Phone clause.

The continued use of Mobile phones while driving, especially amongst the Younger and Learner Driver sector is a cause for alarm. Most drivers accept that this is a dangerous hobby yet still it appears to be outweighing the other favourite participant sports in Ireland such as Golf and a visit to the local Pub, not to mention those thousands of Anglers who line the Banks every weekend!

Hell it