Using a mobile phone whilst driving - they got me!
Discussion
Hi all,
Just on my way home and got caught using my phone whilst driving. Bang to rights.
I was told that a course should be offered but I wondered if the new punishments had come into effect?
If so, how many points and how much fine is it now?
How much is the course and is it much the same as the speed awareness course?
Can you complete a mobile phone course having completed a speeding course less than 2 years ago?
Thanks in advance.
Just on my way home and got caught using my phone whilst driving. Bang to rights.
I was told that a course should be offered but I wondered if the new punishments had come into effect?
If so, how many points and how much fine is it now?
How much is the course and is it much the same as the speed awareness course?
Can you complete a mobile phone course having completed a speeding course less than 2 years ago?
Thanks in advance.
Can't help with the cost of courses, etc, but wanted to ask whether you were caught making a call or using it for something else?
Just curious.
(Get your tin hat on too; you've held your hands up but I'm sure someone will have a pop!)
Edit: 3 points and £100 according to a quick Google search which took me to Gov.uk. That was correct as at 30th Nov '16
Just curious.
(Get your tin hat on too; you've held your hands up but I'm sure someone will have a pop!)
Edit: 3 points and £100 according to a quick Google search which took me to Gov.uk. That was correct as at 30th Nov '16
Edited by PorkInsider on Thursday 12th January 14:30
PorkInsider said:
Can't help with the cost of courses, etc, but wanted to ask whether you were caught making a call or using it for something else?
Just curious.
(Get your tin hat on too; you've held your hands up but I'm sure someone will have a pop!)
Edit: 3 points and £100 according to a quick Google search which took me to Gov.uk. That was correct as at 30th Nov '16
I was caught making a call. No excuse and it's as simple as that. (I was in my van and had been on the phone on speaker phone until I got up top speed having joined the motorway ((M4)). Having reached 60mph I couldn't hear anymore so I picked it off the dash, took it off speaker phone and put it to my ear just as a unmarked, dark grey Octavia pulled up beside me.) As I say, not an excuse. I was on my phone. I was a ball bag. Think that's what I said to the WPC too. Just curious.
(Get your tin hat on too; you've held your hands up but I'm sure someone will have a pop!)
Edit: 3 points and £100 according to a quick Google search which took me to Gov.uk. That was correct as at 30th Nov '16
Edited by PorkInsider on Thursday 12th January 14:30
Re the edit. I also read this but thought that the gov were to make it 6 points and £200.00 as of 2017?
Dorset Police have stopped offering courses for mobile phone offences. They were generally castigated for 'down grading' the offence especially after the A34 lorry driver tragedy. The Government have announced that the tougher penalties will come in during the first half of 2017.
Edited by rewc on Thursday 12th January 15:29
Joe5y said:
Re the edit. I also read this but thought that the gov were to make it 6 points and £200.00 as of 2017?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37389800BBC said:
Under new rules expected to come in next year, drivers will get six points on their licence and face a £200 fine.
...
The penalties, which will increase from three penalty points and a £100 fine, will be accompanied by a high-profile government Think! campaign.
The Department for Transport said it expected the changes to take effect in the first half of 2017.
So, no, not yet - and we'll know about it when it does....
The penalties, which will increase from three penalty points and a £100 fine, will be accompanied by a high-profile government Think! campaign.
The Department for Transport said it expected the changes to take effect in the first half of 2017.
https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/mobile-... says 1st March.
TooMany2cvs said:
Joe5y said:
Re the edit. I also read this but thought that the gov were to make it 6 points and £200.00 as of 2017?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37389800BBC said:
Under new rules expected to come in next year, drivers will get six points on their licence and face a £200 fine.
...
The penalties, which will increase from three penalty points and a £100 fine, will be accompanied by a high-profile government Think! campaign.
The Department for Transport said it expected the changes to take effect in the first half of 2017.
So, no, not yet - and we'll know about it when it does....
The penalties, which will increase from three penalty points and a £100 fine, will be accompanied by a high-profile government Think! campaign.
The Department for Transport said it expected the changes to take effect in the first half of 2017.
https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/mobile-... says 1st March.
I could have looked myself but I'm driving . . .
CaptainMorgan said:
bad company said:
Slightly off topic but I'm not long back from India where I witnessed several motorcyclists using phones. Some had up to 4 people on the bike. 
Not quite as impressive (maybe impressively stupid) but my little brother got done for texting while riding his scooter. 
HappyMidget said:
Fairly standard in Vietnam to see people browsing facebook whilst riding their mopeds. Makes crossing the road that bit more interesting
Wow I can imagine. I haven't been since 2005 but back then you just looked their way and walked. Even more scary if they're looking at their phones, not you Out of interest, how many deaths are attributable to mobile phone usage? I see so many people on the phone these days I've given up getting annoyed. It's become the norm. It's an irritation if the car at the lights doesn't pull away promptly but I've not seen death or carnage from phone users, speeders or drink drivers in over 40 years of driving. I've never seen a bad smash, let alone a fatality.
Driversmatter said:
Most of it already covered. Depends on the area, many forces no longer offer the course.
The course is like speed one in as much as it would be a conditional offer, prices vary from £85 to £100 depends who provides it. Lasts 3.25hrs.
Thank you. The course is like speed one in as much as it would be a conditional offer, prices vary from £85 to £100 depends who provides it. Lasts 3.25hrs.
The WPC said that if I hadn't been caught before (and with my assumption that it won't conflict with a speeding one that I have completed within 2years) that I should be offered a course, as does the paperwork.
Boosted LS1 said:
Out of interest, how many deaths are attributable to mobile phone usage? I see so many people on the phone these days I've given up getting annoyed. It's become the norm. It's an irritation if the car at the lights doesn't pull away promptly but I've not seen death or carnage from phone users, speeders or drink drivers in over 40 years of driving. I've never seen a bad smash, let alone a fatality.
I'm a paramedic and went to a head on RTC recently where there were 2x injuries, one serious. The driver had no excuse for being on the 'wrong' side of the (rural A) road but I have my suspicions......Police seized their phone, so maybe.....
Could be.. maybe not.
I understand that undue care and attention catered for all sorts of offences in the past. I don't understand why there is a specific offence that relates to mobile phones unless of course there is significant data to support it. I'm pretty neutral on the subject and wonder if it's being sold to us in the same way as the 'speed kills' mantra.
I understand that undue care and attention catered for all sorts of offences in the past. I don't understand why there is a specific offence that relates to mobile phones unless of course there is significant data to support it. I'm pretty neutral on the subject and wonder if it's being sold to us in the same way as the 'speed kills' mantra.
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