PSNI issue over £450k in fines for mobile phone driving offences in Northern Ireland

A law against making phone calls or sending messages while driving has been in place since 2004

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has issued over £450,000 worth of fines to drivers distracted by their phones on the road - in just two years.

The force dished out 1,012 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) between April 2024 and March 2025. This was on top of 1,255 financial penalties received by drivers in the year beforehand.

This means that Northern Irish drivers have been hit with £453,400 worth of fines over two years for using devices while driving.

A law against making mobile phone calls or sending messages while driving in Northern Ireland has been in place since 2004. Three years ago, the UK government made the law stricter, meaning that any use of a handheld device would trigger an offence.

Stormont is looking into following suit, led by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins. When launching a consultation into the legislation last month, Minister Kimmins said: “Driving is a complex activity requiring a driver’s full attention and the consequences of a lapse in attention behind the wheel could last a lifetime. The statistics show that inattention is a causation factor in the majority of collisions which result in death or serious injury.

“We all have a personal responsibility to behave in a way that keeps ourselves and others safe. Holding and using a mobile phone for any purpose while driving should not be an option for a driver using our roads.”

The fixed penalty for using a mobile phone on the road is £200, plus six points added to your license. While 1,617 people paid off their FPN, another 650 were referred for prosecution in court, where they could be made to pay as much as £1,000.

Head of Road Policing, Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson, said: " We are committed to keeping our roads safe and that includes ensuring that drivers stay off their phone.

“It's really disappointing that so many drivers continued to disregard the safety of themselves and others, by using their mobile phone while driving.

Chief Inspector Simpson added: "We’re continuing to urge everyone to play their part in making our roads safer for everyone and to remember the ‘Fatal Five’ every time they get into their vehicle - don’t drink or take drugs and drive; slow down; don’t be careless; always wear your seat belt and never use your mobile phone while driving.

"The public will see our officers out and about conducting Livesaver operations. If our officers observe a driver using their mobile, rest assured that we will take appropriate action.

“If you see someone driving in an unsafe manner, contact police immediately when it is safe to do so – you may well save lives.”

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