Changes are rung for laws on driving with mobiles
Today a new set of rules and regulations were brought into force regrding the use of mobile phones whilst driving.
Today a new set of rules and regulations were brought into force regarding the use of mobile phones whilst driving. The update of the existing rules, along with an expanded television campaign, are part of a government campaign to eradicate the use of mobile telephones whilst driving.
The new laws see a dramatic increase in the punishment for breaking the law. Fixed penalties double from £30 to £60, whilst there is the threat of an automatic 3 point penalty for anyone caught. There is also the possibility of having your case referred to court, where fines can increase to anything upto £1000, with the extra burden of a £2500 fine for those caught using a mobile phone whilst driving a truck or lorry. However, the AA commented that these charges "paled in significance" to the punishment of a jail sentence for anyone deemed to have caused a fatal crash by using their mobile phone. In 2005 13 deaths and a staggering 400 injuries were attributed to driving whilst on the phone.
Minister for transport Stephen Ladyman backed the modifications to a law which brought 77,000 people to justice in 2005, and told of how the law would be enforced "seriously". He also stressed the ease with which police can trace offenders, and the need for absolute concentration at all times when driving, stating that "driving is perhaps the most dangerous task we perform daily". However he would not be drawn to comment on a law to ban use of mobiles in the car completely, choosing simply to comment, "if you are not in proper control of your vehicle, there are already penalties the police can charge you with."
It remains to be seen whether the campaign, under its slogan "Get the message, Switch to message", can be as effective as is hoped.
The new laws see a dramatic increase in the punishment for breaking the law. Fixed penalties double from £30 to £60, whilst there is the threat of an automatic 3 point penalty for anyone caught. There is also the possibility of having your case referred to court, where fines can increase to anything upto £1000, with the extra burden of a £2500 fine for those caught using a mobile phone whilst driving a truck or lorry. However, the AA commented that these charges "paled in significance" to the punishment of a jail sentence for anyone deemed to have caused a fatal crash by using their mobile phone. In 2005 13 deaths and a staggering 400 injuries were attributed to driving whilst on the phone.
Minister for transport Stephen Ladyman backed the modifications to a law which brought 77,000 people to justice in 2005, and told of how the law would be enforced "seriously". He also stressed the ease with which police can trace offenders, and the need for absolute concentration at all times when driving, stating that "driving is perhaps the most dangerous task we perform daily". However he would not be drawn to comment on a law to ban use of mobiles in the car completely, choosing simply to comment, "if you are not in proper control of your vehicle, there are already penalties the police can charge you with."
It remains to be seen whether the campaign, under its slogan "Get the message, Switch to message", can be as effective as is hoped.