Irish road hauliers have highlighted what they describe as an “epidemic” of drivers using mobile phones while behind the wheel, observable from their elevated position in truck cabs.
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has voiced serious concerns about deteriorating driving standards, with President Ger Hyland stating that driver behavior is at an “all-time low.” From their “bird’s eye view” of the roads, truck drivers regularly witness motorists texting and browsing social media while driving.
“Mobile phone use is an epidemic that is causing accidents and road deaths and there doesn’t seem to be any consistent garda enforcement to stamp it out,” Hyland warned.
The association also highlighted other dangerous behaviors including tailgating, hazardous overtaking on rural roads, and confusion at roundabouts. Hyland acknowledged that some hauliers have also been accused of using phones while driving, stating he “would not defend any haulier engaging in this bad behavior.”
While road fatalities have decreased in 2025 with 42 deaths so far compared to 55 during the same period last year, authorities remain concerned. In 2024, over 170 people lost their lives on Irish roads, continuing a post-pandemic upward trend in fatalities.
Garda enforcement has increased, with officers now required to conduct 30 minutes of road policing per shift. Research presented to authorities last year indicated that Irish drivers consider the risk of being caught using a phone while driving as “close to zero.”