Fixed penalty notices in December

The news was revealed during a recent Ballymoney Borough Road Safety Committee meeting.

Ms J Kinnaird secretary explained that she had been advised by the PSNI that 14 fixed penalty notices had been issued in the area during the December period.

She also advised that Inspector David Anderson had said that someone from the PSNI would be prepared to attend a meeting of the Committee to discuss road safety issues.

Cllr Evelyne Robinson asked if this equated with the numbers detected during the Committee’s mobile phone survey.

In response the Chairman, Mr S Knox, advised that a very small percentage of drivers had been detected using mobile phones during the survey.

It was agreed to prepare a press release for the papers on the issue of mobile phones following the PSNI initiative.

Cllr Tom McKeown raised the issue of drivers who pull in and park in order to use their mobile phone and park in a way which causes an obstruction or hazard to other road users.

The PSNI representative confirmed that this could amount to careless or dangerous driving.

He also advised that the penalty for using a hand-held mobile phone was greater for someone in a larger vehicle - incurring a fine of up to 2,500.

Following discussion it was agreed that the Chairman write to the PSNI thanking them for their support and inviting them to attend the April meeting of Committee.