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Mobile in hand will be illegal
Page 6
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• Drivers who use handheld phones while driving will face three penalty points on their licence under new government proposals.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has outlined its plans following its eight-month consultation into making the use of mobile phones while driving a specific offence. There will be a fine, initially set at £30, but rising to a maximum of £1,000 if the case goes to court.
Currently there is no law relating specifically to drivrng and mobile phones but drivers can be charged with driving without due care and attention or for not being in proper control of their vehicle (CM 22-28 Aug 2002).
But the government is now planning to make it an endorsable offence from 1 December 2003. Properly installed handsfree phones will be permitted.
Road safety minister David Jamieson says: "Dur decision to introduce this new offence will make the roads safer for us all. Missing a call won't kill you—an accident quite possibly could."
Road safety campaign group Brake welcomes the news. Policy officer Ben Wheatley says: 'This legislation is long overdue. Research has shown that using a mobile while driving is as dangerous as drink driving."
Recent research by the Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA) showed that only 18% of truck drivers consider using a mobile phone a "driving sin".