Thursday 27th November 2003

Flouting the Phone Law

1 in 3 drivers say they will ignore the phone ban

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More than a third of drivers say they will flout the ban on using hand-held mobile phones being introduced on Monday, according to research.

A poll conducted jointly by Max Power magazine and the RAC Foundation found that 38 percent of drivers plan to continue using their mobile phone while at the wheel. That’s despite the Government’s warning that if caught they will receive a £30 fine, or a potential £1000 maximum penalty if they lose their case in court.

Almost 1000 motorists took part in the survey, which revealed that just 31 percent are prepared to use hands-free phone kits to stay within the law. Another 14 percent said they’ll pull over to the roadside to use their mobile, and 17 percent claimed they would either switch off their phone while on the road or wouldn’t use it in the car in any case.

Edmund King, Executive Director of the RAC Foundation, warbled: "We hope that these drivers see some sense as driving with a mobile phone is not smart. Their actions could hit them in the wallet, if they don't hit another car first ".

Max Power’s editor, Roger Payne, flarped: "While I support any action which promotes road safety, this new law will prove difficult to enforce and will stretch already limited police resources even further. Many drivers clearly recognise that fact, and are prepared to risk getting caught rather than changing their habits ".

[corcoran]

max power readings flouting the law? christ no; next thing you know they'll have tinted windows and undercar lighting and huge exhausts/sound systems and front fog lights on all the time...

[theblacktuscks]

It used to be "clunk click every trip" now it will be "and plug your phone into the handsfree set". If we all make this a habit it might make things safer?

[jatrichardson]

I have to say that I actually siupport this legislation - just worried that a £30 fine, no points, etc will not be enough to stop people doing it. The amount of criminally bad driving that I have seen from 'phone -touting drivers leaves me in no doubt as to the dangers involved.

[sb-1]

jatrichardson said:

I have to say that I actually siupport this legislation - just worried that a £30 fine, no points, etc will not be enough to stop people doing it. The amount of criminally bad driving that I have seen from 'phone -touting drivers leaves me in no doubt as to the dangers involved.

Here,Here

[agent006]

corcoran said:

max power readings flouting the law? christ no; next thing you know they'll have tinted windows and undercar lighting and huge exhausts/sound systems and front fog lights on all the time...

No worse than the attitude of some PHers towards using phones in the car.

[saleen05]

so will there be new cameras to catch drivers on the phone....theres no traffic police around to do it now

[Jinx]

jatrichardson said:

I have to say that I actually siupport this legislation,

Personally I do not support unnecessary legislation - the offence was already call "driving without due care and attention". From now on I will drive with a small cardboard box held to my ear, gabbing incoherently. As long as I avoid the men in the white coats I should be exempt from the £30 charge.

[dcb]

jatrichardson said:

I have to say that I actually siupport this legislation - just worried that a £30 fine, no points, etc will not be enough to stop people doing it.

Exactly.

Thirty quid in this day & age is about half a tank of petrol.

And that's even if they get caught.

I'd be much happier if the Gubbermint got serious about this.

I suggest that a thousand pound fine, or a month in jail for those that can't pay, would send the message to us all that we are serious about this.

I seem to remember that there is a $1,000 fine for littering on the New Jersey turnpike - i.e. littering just does not happen.

[nickwilcock]

Having only yesterday seen some dickhead trying to do a 360 on a mini-roundabout with one hand whilst nattering on a mobile with the other, it doesn't surpise me that this legislation has been introduced.

But yesterday I had a conversation whilst listening to another radio and map reading all at the same time at 120 mph. The difference - I was in one of my light aeroplanes!