NEWS The government is set to double the fine for driving while using a mobile phone to £60 because figures show the current penalty is failing to have an impact.
Government research shows that the number of drivers using a mobile phone while on the road has dropped by only a quarter since the ban was introduced last December.
The current on-the-spot fine is £30 although drivers contesting it after being caught face being hit with a £1,000 bill if they go to court and lose.
Now the government is expected to include proposals to double the £30 fine and add three points on offenders' driving licences in the Queen's Speech on Tuesday.
What do you think of the ban on using mobile phones while driving – is the existing fine enough or should it be raised? Or should offenders be hit with an automatic driving ban or jail? Vote in the new silicon.com poll here on the right hand side of the page.
Comments
There are 39 comments. Join the discussion
1. Dominic Bradbury
Yet another excuse to stealth-squeeze every last drop of cash from car owners by the tree loving hippies in government. Still, I suppose they had to do something now they've been rumbled and made to take down all those essential brightly coloured 'Safety' Cameras.
There's a plus side though, I'll be able to read my copy of TopGear with both hands while driving ...
2. anonymous
scrap the fine, crush the phone. your driving along on ya mobile. stoped by a police officer. They take your phone place it under one of your tires and then you have to drive over it. then you get the 3 points. Now that might work. (repeat offenders can place their head under the tire instead)
3. Seymour Harding
I think I've seen more people using there phones whilst driving since the ban than before. The Police show little interest as I've seen people drive past marked police cars using their phones and the cops haven't batted an eyelid!
On one occasion I was waiting to enter a round-about and a young lady nearly hit me as she dropped the steering wheel to change gear - and she didn't even stop her conversation!
Anyone should be given the legal right to stop the person, take the phone and stamp on it!
If you need a phone for your job, get work to pay for a hands-free kit!
4. anonymous
Hmmm. £5 for a hands-free earpiece, or risk £60 and points just so you can pose and say "how big I am - I'm breaking the law" as you fail to negotiate that corner and wrap your car around a lamp post. Let me think. Next one... Ban people lighting cigs whilst driving. It must be just as much a distraction.
Signed: Non-smoker with a hands-free kit.
5. Andrew Taylor
Oh, for goodness sake stop whingeing. Using a hand-held phone is _obviously_ dangerous. If you're so desperate to use your phone, spend a tenner on a hands-free kit.
6. Graham Guy
Once again a blanket rule is imposed without thought. In an automatic car (Ed note. Can the police tell at a glance that it is an automatic car?) on a quiet motorway (Ed note. Quiet by whose definition?) there is little wrong with holding a phone against your ear. But on a three lane junction in the middle of town you would have to be mad to try driving with one hand occupied without a modified car (there are lots of one-armed drivers out there). Nanny state? Too true!
(Final Ed note. Just playing Devil's Advocate with your comment really Graham - but there are obvious problems of creating such expansive room for interpretation. Just because one driver believes they are safe doesn't mean they won't crash. After all, nobody take to the road if they know they are going to crash - it's why they are called accidents.)
7. Derek Cullen
There seems to be some misunderstanding here. Surely the offence is using a HAND HELD phone, not a phone in a proper cradle. In this case I think the fine should be raised significantly for first offenders and treated as dangerous driving with the relevant punishment, including loss of licence, for subsequent offences.
8. Mark Dexter
Judging by some of the terrible driving seen by people on the phone, anything that can be done to curb the habit is a good thing. The problem seems to be one of enforcement though - I was overtaking a police car on the M62 the other day and was in turn being overtaken by a guy who was not only holding a phone in one hand but gesticulating with his free hand, at about 75 mph. The police were probably so impressed by his ability to stay below 80 mph and therefore avoid a speeding ticket that they didn't see he was on the phone! Doh
9. anonymous
The problem is that it is a blanket ban, and you actually have to have the engine switched off to be exempt. If there was an exemption below say 5mph (So you can tell the people at your destination that you are caught in a traffic jam) It would be more reasonable. I think the penalty should depend on the circumstances & you shouldn't be penalised for contesting it other than the imposition of costs.
10. anonymous
Should ban smoking while driving.. Hands occupied with burning fag & are driving whilst under influence of drugs. (Am smoker myself)
11. Phil Tarbrook
Taxi Drivers must pick up a handset whilst on the road.........?
12. anonymous
I think that driving with a hands free kit is relatively safe. But that is not the whole issue. One still has to take ones eyes off the road to create the call and terminate the call. Voice activated dialling is not a flawless technology and cannot be relied upon in what could be a life or death situation.
In most motoring situations I feel the mobile phone is simply too dangerous.
13. Martin Richards
the fine is fine! anything it takes to mitigate unnecessary causes of accidents, pedestrians being squashed etc. is the way to go.
If you need to use your phone, then stop occasionally to listen to and answer messages. The same applies to changing the tape or CD, at least slow down on the Mway. We all make mistakes and drive occasionally without enough care. We owe it to other humans to reduce the risk we all pose to each other.
BTW I used to drive 45k miles per annum.
14. Martin Richards
the fine is fine! anything it takes to mitigate unnecessary causes of accidents, pedestrians being squashed etc. is the way to go.
If you need to use your phone, then stop occasionally to listen to and answer messages. The same applies to changing the tape or CD, at least slow down on the Mway. We all make mistakes and drive occasionally without enough care. We owe it to other humans to reduce the risk we all pose to each other.
BTW I used to drive 45k miles per annum.
15. anonymous
A signal jammer shoud be fitted to all vehicles, so that when the vehicle has the engine running the phone will not work. drivers can not see pedestrians or cyclists while they have a hand with phone to their ear, or other drivers for that matter.
its dangerous driving and should carry a charge of driving without due care and attention
16. Ian Proud
Does mobile phone use by car drivers result in loss of concentration? The other evening in Ealing I saw a man driving a Mercedes whilst using a phone. It was dark, but he was concentrating so much on his conversation that he did not realise his lights were off. He then round a roundabout with out signalling because his hand was occupied with the phone and then as he exited the roundabout he went through the traffic lights as they changed. That driver was a danger to himself and other road users because he thought he could phone and drive a the same time, when it was patently obviously he could not.
Yes I am a mobile phone user, but in the car it's hands free and only used for incoming calls as I need only push one button. Outbound calls are made when stationary.
17. Ron
overkill overkill overkill. with no causitive evidence that this ban is actually having any effect on accident reduction - remember the original ban was brought in on statistical evidence that using a mobile phone whilst driving was likely to distract and potential cause a driver to be less aware. So with no evidence, government zombies are now basing success factors on the effect of the ban in stopping mobile use. Was this the original intention???
18. Nigel B.
Wakey, wakey Dominic!! How can fining those who choose to publicly display their incompetence and stupidity in illegally using a mobile phone whilst driving be considered a ‘stealth’ tax?? If it’s any kind of ‘tax’, it’s surely a ‘tax’ on individuals’ gross stupidity!! Presumably, from your trite comments, you intimate that you too are a candidate due to be subjected to this ‘tax’? Lets hope for everybody else’s sake that you are hopefully ‘competent’ when driving around Kent and beyond. Maybe you would better enjoy Top Gear on-line – see: http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/features_index/01/ rather than the dated manual ‘paper’ version!!
As well as the fine and points on the perpetrators licence, the police should also have the power to permanently confiscate the ‘offending phone’ for crushing.
19. anonymous
How far do you go. What other more dangerous distractions are there in cars. How about changing the CD in the CD player, what about the screaming brats on the back seat, or the dog on the drivers lap. the other thing is ban people for absolute shite driving altogether. well why not ban driving. If people were sensible the phones would not be a problem, do you need to use it - NO. how about people just concentrate on driving a car. roads would be much safer
20. anonymous
smoking while driving?? BAN SMOKING far easier.
breaking / confiscating phone is silly, take the car
and
[quote]So you can tell the people at your destination that you are caught in a traffic jam[/quote]
GET A HANDS FREE KIT
21. anonymous
Does the same penalty apply to police drivers using hand held radios whilst driving? If it doesnt it should.
22. Andrew Lewis
Are motorists stupid using a handheld phone while driving? YES. It is dangerous. The current fine has had little or no impact, so it needs to be raised. There is no excuse as hands free leads are very cheap and full hands free kits are still afordable. The quality of a call on the leads and kits are first class, so why would anyone be stupid enough not to use one and drive dangerously?
A hefty fine and points should hopefully bring this hazard home to some people. This is one of very few issues I have felt comfortable with supporting our current Government on.
23. anonymous
Too right. It's dangerous enough on the roads as it is without the worry of getting hit by someone that isn't in full control of their car.
24. anonymous
Needs enforcement though.
1st offence: large fine and 3 pts.
2nd: larger fine and ban.
3rd: as above plus insertion of phone(!) and then ring it up.
I don't think many'll get to three.
25. Ron Murray
Points make Prizes! Only a threat of points on the driving license may prevent the habitual offenders from continuing with this perilous habit. The petty fine to these people who are affluent in monetary terms is not a deterrent. Nail the bastards to the wall I say.
26. Steve
Some mobile phones have speakerphone features built in. All you have to do is buy a clamp and you're legal. Low-res digital cameras and colour screens seem to make it further up the priority list for marketing departments, though. Safety just isn't 'cool'.
27. anonymous
I fully support any penalties for using phones on the move. I have observed many near misses and a few outright liberties on the road whilst driving one handed. What is wrong with using approved handsfree kit. It is falling in price all the time.
28. Peter Goddard
€90 fine and points in France, but it changes nothing.
I think that I saw the lot last week: a woman in front of me smoking, using here mobile with a young child in the back who wasn't strapped-in!!!! I wonder if that child has more chance of being killed in a road accident or of cancer. What can you do? At least we don't have road rage in France.
29. anonymous
What about CB radios?? Are they not the same? A handset?. Maybe I will buy a CB with a dialler on it, or change the name of my mobile phone to a mobile CB..
No revenue in CBs, not enough about nowadays.
But I use a hands free anyway, so it makes no difference to me.
30. Steve Mould
I agree with Seymour. I have noticed more people using phones while driving since the ban and had more close shaves as a result. I think part of the problem is that it wasn't communicated well. My work sent news of the ban out to us by text, email, snail mail to home and verbally via my boss but I heard very little about it via radio / tv, etc. I suspect much of the public still doesn't realise although common sense tells you it's wrong. Hands free kits are not that expensive... there is no excuse not to have one.
31. anonymous
I'm with anonymous from Sheffield, I am in complete agreement that Mobiles should not be used whilst driving, but it does seem like a double standard that people can go to the effort of lighting up, smoking, winding down the window and chucking the but out of the window.
So ban smoking whilst driving as well.
This could get really silly however. You cant adjust your stereo unless the controls are on the wheel. But hang on a minute, if we cant reach down to the stereo, then we cant go to the gear stick either so we will all be screaming around in 1st gear, stressed cos we cant have a fag and the phone is ringing in the background.
Ahhh, the solution, the government must buy us all Porsche Carerras with Tiptronic gears and integrated stereo controls, oh yes, and a built in car kit for the phone :-}}
32. anonymous
It's surprising how many still ignore the regulation and/or do not fully understand it. I suggest you check out the dft's website.
The regulations do not affect the present law, which imposes an absolute obligation on drivers to have full control of the vehicle and to drive with due car and attention at all times. So, in theory, you can be prosecuted for changing the channel on your radio, or adjusting your air conditioning.
Exemptions are made for hands-free phones and two-way "press to talk" radios. However, even users of such phones may be prosecuted for failing to have proper control of a vehicle.
What does annoy me is that official road accident statistics do not record accident causation and therefore the number of casualties where a driver was using a mobile phone are not known. So how can they assess whether the regulations are having an impact?
33. Troy
Blame it on the speed cameras. There aren't any traffic cops left since the introduction of speed cameras. It doesn't matter how much the fine is unless there is someone out there catch people then it won't make any difference.
34. Adam Bartlett
Inconvenience and humiliation are the key! Snap the sim card in half, crush the phone, ban them from driving for a week and scratch "mobile moron" down the side of their car.
Pedestrians should be obliged to point and shout out a Nelson Muntz-style "ha-ha" whenever they pass.
35. Dominic Bradbury
Nigel B, what a brilliant idea! instead of a paper copy of TopGear, why don't I initiate a Bluetooth connection on my mobile and plonk my laptop on the dash to get TopGear online, much more in keeping with this website. Thanks for the tip! ...
36. Tony Pearce
Solution: Raise the fine to £60.00. From the increased revenue; supply Police with S.A.E.s that the offender writes his/her address on. Place phone in S.A.E. and return phone to the criminal when he/she pays the fine. A few days without their "lifeline" will probably be more of a deterent than the fine. Destroying a mobile is not environmentally friendly! Oh yes, and of course a couple of points on the licence.
37. anonymous
Having been stuck at traffic lights yesterday behind a driver not concentrating whilst on a mobile phone, and seen people driving at 70+ on the M25 with one hand on the steering wheel and a phone held up to their ear, I am all for a total ban and convicting the drivers of dangerous driving. Before mobile phones we contacted the office after reaching our destination. Is it really necessary to put other peoples lives at risk when on the road? If an employer insists on being able to contact the employee when driving, then the employer should also be heavily fined for being irresponsible.
38. Graham Guy
So if we are banning mobile phones and smoking as being too distracting when driving, how about passengers? I've had some very distracting passengers in my car over the last few years! And what about kids? You try negotiating a set of lights with a baby screaming and another child sticking a lollypop in your ear!!!
Solution: crush all cars and give everyone motorbikes. Or horses.
39. anonymous
Retrofit speed cameras to be triggered by active mobile phone signals. Its then just a case of the police manually processing an extra few photos to see if it is the driver or passenger using the phone and prosecuting that way.
Maybe they would have caught the driver whos' phone call was more important than my sons life.