Using phone driving to increase to 6 points & £200 fine

[jakesmith]

I actually think this will make a difference. New drivers face disqualification in their first 2 years for starters so that tricles through as they get older. Whilst the police may not have all the resource they need to detect, for people who need their licence for their job or who already have 3 or 6 points which many do, this is now much higher risk.

I have bluetooth and nav in both my cars but occasionally use my phone - I wouldn't touch it if this becomes law though

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37389800

[Biker 1]

Oh dear, beaten to it by 2 minutes.... Merge the threads perhaps?

[Magic919]

There was one before that.

[anonymous-user]

Also like to add drivers should use a bit of common sense where they stop their vehicle to see who's rung.

[defblade]

Hooray, about bloody time.

If they're worried about detecting the crime, maybe allow decent quality dashcam vids to be submitted?

Although the worrying rise these days is the number of people driving with their eyes mostly down to their laps, rather than phone at the ear...

[drf765]

The last time there was an epidemic distraction affecting drivers the government introduced immediate arrest and a minimum 12-month ban. Why not do that again?

[TankRizzo]

Will make no difference.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

jakesmith said:

I actually think this will make a difference.

I don't. If people genuinely believe they are very unlikely to get caught (which it true), why would they care about the deterrent. You could bring in the death penalty for it and they'll just carry on. I live in the London area. I see maybe 20 or 30 drivers a day on their phones. Probably more. I also see police cars routinely go past them or be next to them and do absolutely nothing.

If you want to make a difference, increase the fine by a tenner and pay it as a bonus to the copper every time he/she pulls someone for it. Copper will make an extra £2/300 a day, so they're happy, and loads of people will be getting done and therefore changing their habits.

In 6 months you could more or less eradicate it.

[drf765]

TankRizzo said:

Will make no difference.

Why not?

The method has had a massive impact, what evidence do you have for the alternative?

[TankRizzo]

drf765 said:

Why not?

The method has had a massive impact, what evidence do you have for the alternative?

I don't have an "alternative". Where did I say that?

It's my opinion that people think they won't get caught so will continue to do it regardless of if it goes up again.

[agtlaw]

jakesmith said:

I actually think this will make a difference. New drivers face disqualification in their first 2 years for starters so that tricles through as they get older. Whilst the police may not have all the resource they need to detect, for people who need their licence for their job or who already have 3 or 6 points which many do, this is now much higher risk.

I have bluetooth and nav in both my cars but occasionally use my phone - I wouldn't touch it if this becomes law though

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37389800

Revocation, not disqualification.

The maximum fine is £1000. A fixed penalty will be £200 and 6 points.

[drf765]

TankRizzo said:

drf765 said:

Why not?

The method has had a massive impact, what evidence do you have for the alternative?

I don't have an "alternative". Where did I say that?

It's my opinion that people think they won't get caught so will continue to do it regardless of if it goes up again.

Everyone knows the risk of getting caught is small, similarly everyone knows the penalty is affordable and small. If however everyone knew the risk of getting caught is small but when they were caught the penalty was potentially life-changing then they are more likely to be deterred.

Here's an idea to ramp up the detection rates. Get a member of police staff to drive in an unmarked vehicle with a GPS-enabled camera and film people using their phones while driving along with registration numbers and issue penalties from that evidence. Can't see why that isn't used to overcome the problem of low detection rates.

[TankRizzo]

drf765 said:

Everyone knows the risk of getting caught is small, similarly everyone knows the penalty is affordable and small. If however everyone knew the risk of getting caught is small but when they were caught the penalty was potentially life-changing then they are more likely to be deterred.

Here's an idea to ramp up the detection rates. Get a member of police staff to drive in an unmarked vehicle with a GPS-enabled camera and film people using their phones while driving along with registration numbers and issue penalties from that evidence. Can't see why that isn't used to overcome the problem of low detection rates.

I'll bet you a tenner this makes no major difference to the offending rates.

[TVR Mart]

Following a young lady Driver, 'Baby on Board' sign in rear window, phone held with 2 hands on steering wheel, either phoning or texting, they should be banned instantly, having heard an interview on Radio 4, of a Father who's son was killed by a van driver of was texting at the wheel, and taken his eyes of the road for 9 seconds, before hitting this mans son and killing him, who incidentally had been charged 8 times before for using his phone while driving, get them off the road, they have no place on the road, or respect for other road users.

[Fleegle]

Not before time

This needs to come in with immediate effect and needs enforcing.

I can't believe in this day and age of Bluetooth that people are still too lazy to pair their phones up

[anonymous-user]

If you did it before you'll carry on doing it. The number of people I see on their phones - and that includes looking down to text - is more than the number of people I see speeding... I suppose you can't speed and text/phone at the same time.

[worsy]

Shoot me down, but I don't see the problem in stopped, waiting at lights in picking up your phone and reading a message/checking the time/ <some other small task>. Texting whilst driving is absolute stupidity though, however it could have been dealt with under existing Driving without Due Care legislation which already had the power to impose more points.

[ging84]

Personally i think the law isn't fit for purpose, particularly if they increase the penalty. The law deals specifically with devices being hand held, but the real problem is eyes off the road.

[Crumpet]

About time! Question; does this apply to using a phone while holding it in your hand? If the phone is mounted on the dash in a suitable holder is that technically legal to use?

I have my iPhone mounted to the right of the car's touchscreen and have it open on Apple Music or Spotify to be able to control songs. It's a lot easier and less of a distraction to use that than to use the car's own touchscreen system and all the other controls but am I breaking the law by doing so? If so, does it render a dash mount completely pointless?

[4rephill]

worsy said:

Shoot me down, but I don't see the problem in stopped, waiting at lights in picking up your phone and reading a message/checking the time/ <some other small task>......

Where's the problem in waiting until you can find somewhere safe and out of the way of other traffic to pull over to check your phone for texts, messages, the time or blog/tweet about being held up at a green traffic light by some knob who had decided looking at their phone was far more important than paying attention to the traffic lights?