The Garda Traffic Watch scheme which allows drivers to report other motorists' bad habits goes nationwide today.
Since the scheme was introduced in Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and parts of Wicklow a little more than two years ago, nearly 4,000 people have contacted gardaí through the special reduced rate telephone hotline.
As a result, more than 1,000 formal cautions have been handed out and there have been 30 prosecutions. The majority of reports have been about speeding, overtaking and driving too close. Successful prosecutions have been for drunk and reckless driving - and throwing litter out of vehicles.
The phonelines are now open around the clock in all 26 counties, with call centres based in towns in Dublin, Kilkenny, Galway, Offaly, Cork and Leitrim.
A Garda spokesman said the scheme would "empower road users to play a pro-active role in the enforcement of traffic legislation".
The scheme has been backed by the National Roads Authority, which erected special Traffic Watch signs on all national roads, highlighting the Lo-Call phone number.
Motorists who make calls are asked to submit statements to the gardaí later. If statements are refused by the complainants, police issue cautions to the drivers who are the subjects of complaints.
The National Safety Council has advised drivers to store the Lo-Call number on their mobile phones. The number is 1890 205805.