mobile phones

[gina32]

i heard yesterday that a law is being brought in that if youa re caught answering your mobile phone while driving you will get a �60 fine plus 3 penalty points, well does it mean caught "actually" answering the phone or just using it

[Ethel]

It means having the mobile phone in your hand whilst driving.

[jake-the-peg]

I think that the law is actually phrased that it's an offence to be holding your phone whilst in the driving seat of the car if the engine is on.

I do think that it's actually incredibly unlikely that if you had pulled over with your handbrake on anybody would like to try their luck in front of a magistrate by insisting on the letter of the law.

But I think it's phrased that way to stop those who'd think that they could make good use of the time when they're stopped at traffic lights.

You're 4 times more likely to have an accident using a mobile phone

This guy crashed and killed another driver parked in her car whilst he was using a mobile phone

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/ herts/6263543.stm

He got 4 years

[Kathyan]

This does not go far enough. If you are caught on your mobile phone whilst driving, your car should be confiscated and crushed. Twice in one week I was nearly hit by the same driver who was on his mobile. Do these people think that the law doesn't apply to them? Are these calls really that important that they can't wait until they are parked?

[gina32]

but how many times do the police actually do anything about it, i watched a programm teh other week and it showed a copper driving his car and shouting at a woman in a car for using the phone, why didnt he stop and fine her?

[jake-the-peg]

I can't get figures for the UK as a whole but From March 2004 to September 2005 there were 20,000 Fixed penalty notices handed out in Northern Ireland for this.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200 506/cmhansrd/cm051121/text/51121w33.htm

[HJT40]

I am a special constable and we hand out fixed penalties for it all the time. You can now also be sent to court for not being in control of your vehicle, so it can go beyond fixed penalty, this also includes people eating and drinking whilst driving, you wouldn't be surprised to know that some of them are on the phone at the same time. Why though does this not apply to those smoking or lighting cigarettes?

[Nether Edge]

I agree with Kathryn, except perhaps the culprit should still be in the car when it's crushed.

[auzzie]

I queried the date of the new offence here
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Motoring/Questi on350429.html