Mobile New Penilties

[TWR]

Have they gone far enough with the 6Pints + £200 fine? my view for what's it worth, 1 Year Ban, £1000,

[murraymints]

agree. not strong enough penalty, folk will still do it

[Prudie]

It's pointless doing this if they are not going to enforce it. I can guarantee that every time I go out in my car, even for a short trip into town, I will see someone blatantly using their phone to their ear while driving. I think van drivers are the worst culprits.

[ToraToraTora]

yes I agree, should be treated like DD. This is a step in the right direction but it will take some more death and destruction before we get to where we should be.

[ToraToraTora]

prudie they will enforce it, like every law they prosecute when the catch transgressors, this is no different. Of course we see people breaking motoring laws every day only a few get prosecuted, plod can't be everywhere.

[SlackAlice]

When we are unable to ban drivers with up to 62 points whats the point?

[hc4361]

The penalty will be much harsher if using the mobile phone contributes to other offences, such as dangerous driving.

[hc4361]

And don't forget 6 points within the first two years of passing the test means a ban and retest.

[TWR]

More than Van Driver's, the so called Professional HGV Drivers / Foreign Driver using their TV & Fax Machines, "YES Fax Machines. this is used to inform the Driver where to pick up his / her next load.

[gl556tr]

Penalties are to be drastically increased, and high time, too.
Aren't they going to be a function of the culprit's earnings?
I still think UK Ltd is far too lax in curbing traffic offenders. In Switzerland, the authorities make short shrift of such nuisance drivers: driving at 2 kph above a 80 kph speed-limit results in an automatic radar photo of number-plate & driver, on top of which there is a hefty fine. An immediate driving ban follows, as far as I know. Certainly, in CH drivers are far less inclined to break any traffic regulations: it just ain't worth it!

[Prudie]

So if plod can't be everywhere you might as well make the penalty outrageous. Maybe enforce was the wrong word and catch would have been better. I'm sure we must see this being ignored all the time.

[TWR]

I'm sure I herd a police Commissionaire say this morning, although there is a hands free in the car & it's found that a driver was involved in an accident due to dialing a number they will get done, I will soon be corrected if I'm wrong.

[TheChair]

"Have they gone far enough with the 6Pints..."
I think the idea is that they give them the 6 pints, and then bust them for drink driving.

[TWR]

Points, sorry Righteous, slip of finger.

[vulcan42]

There is a device that stops mobile phones being used in vehicles since 2008. Surely nine years is long enough for manufactures to start fitting it?

[hc4361]

vulcan, it is not illegal for passengers to use a mobile phone and it is not illegal for a driver to use a hand held mobile phone to dial 999 if it is a genuine emergency and he cannot pull over.

[hc4361]

Also, many cars have the ability to automatically call 999 if it detects a crash. This could not work if the mobile signal was blocked

[Hopkirk]

Give the police the authority to stamp on the phone there and then.

[murraymints]

according to police this morning, hands free is permissable as long as they don't touch the phone at all but use the control buttons on steering wheel, we have one, you plug in phone and it can be answered by said button.personally I don't think ANY phone activity should be allowed, hands free or not

[New Judge]

“And don't forget 6 points within the first two years of passing the test means a ban and retest.”

It’s a point of pedantry, possibly, but that is not strictly correct, hc.

A “New Driver” (that is one who has passed his/her test for the first time less than two years ago) accumulating six or more points is not disqualified from driving. What happens is that the DVLA, when they are informed of the points, revoke the driver’s licence by writing to him and giving him five days' notice of the revocation. Until they receive notice of the revocation the driver can drive normally (though it should be noted that a driver expecting revocation will commit an offence if he drives normally believing the notice of revocation to have been "lost in the post").

After the licence has been revoked they can immediately apply for a new provisional licence and drive under the terms of that licence (‘L’ Plates, accompanying qualified driver, etc.) as soon as it is received. Many new drivers effected by this spend virtually no time off the road at all and I know of one who successfully passed his test (both parts) within about six weeks of his licence being revoked. The sanction (licence revocation) can only be imposed once. The “probationary period” of two years is automatically ended when a second test is passed.

[ummmm]

I was knocked over on a pedestrian crossing by someone on the phone who didn't notice the lights had turned red.

I think 6 points is enough to make someone rethink when their phone goes off. I think the fine should be higher.