A tractor driver in Cork has been caught more than three times over the legal alcohol limit after Gardaí stopped him while he was using his mobile phone behind the wheel.
Members of the Cork County Roads Policing Unit in Bandon spotted a heavy tractor and trailer being driven along a Cork road, with the driver appearing to be engaged in a conversation on his phone.
Using a mobile phone while driving is illegal and can be particularly dangerous when operating a large agricultural vehicle.
However, when Gardaí stopped the tractor and trailer, they became suspicious that the driver may have committed a more serious offence.
Posting on social media, Gardaí said the driver had initially been stopped after being observed using a mobile phone while driving.
They said: “During the interaction, Gardaí formed a suspicion that the driver may have consumed alcohol.”
A roadside breath test was then carried out, which returned a positive result for alcohol.
Further testing established that the driver was three and a half times over his applicable legal alcohol limit.
The driver now faces a court date and could be banned from driving if convicted.
Gardaí also pointed out that lower alcohol limits apply to certain categories of drivers, including drivers of commercial vehicles.
They used the incident to remind motorists that the rules apply regardless of the type of vehicle being driven.
Whether behind the wheel of a car, van, truck or agricultural vehicle, Gardaí said the message is the same: put the phone away and never drink and drive.
The warning comes as Gardaí continue to focus on dangerous and distracted driving across the country.
There has been an increased focus on motorists using mobile phones, with Gardaí able to deploy a specialist decoy vehicle to identify drivers breaking the rules.
In June, Gardaí began using their unmarked ‘Spotter Truck’, an HGV which allows officers to get a better view of motorists from an elevated position.
The vehicle can be used to spot drivers holding or using their phones while behind the wheel, as well as other dangerous behaviour on the road.
Gardaí have repeatedly warned that using a mobile phone while driving significantly increases the risk of a serious collision.
