They Don't Seem To Bother

[TWR]

Mirror reports on Drivers using Mobiles don't seem to bother about the new 6 points and £200 fine, would they think again if it's an instant ban of 1 year & a £1000 fine, a retest & increase in their insurance? will that sort out this offence?

[bhg481]

I'm not sure the fine is a great deterrent; a ban would be far more effective. That, of course, would also increase their insurance premiums when they started driving again.

[douglas9401]

You forgot to add crush their cars and sell their firstborn into slavery.
There are many more serious offences that carry a much less severe sentence than suggested above so I doubt very much if your dreams will come true.

[TWR]

Does the cost of someone's life not come into it Douge?

[Old_Geezer]

Been discussed recently. Massive penalties only over punish the few caught to make advocates happy. Next to no risk of getting caught doing something that the user doesn't believe will result in tragedy for them, has minimal effect. Detection needs to be better and with all else police need to do it makes little sense using excessive resource making it a priority. IMO the answer is to make the tech safer and push for continued education of how it can happen to you, not just to other people.

[douglas9401]

If there was a death every time some cretin used their phone when driving then yes, but there isn't.

[TWR]

Tell that to Wife's / Husbands / Parent's that has lost a person to this stupid act, then I will agree with you.

[douglas9401]

Oh dear. I'll be off now.

[Old_Geezer]

Excessive punishment for one caught so some can feel better about deaths caused by others, doesn't help much. It'd cause permanent resentment to authorities from those treated that way, and others will still feel it won't happen to them. The suggestion of overpunishment is always the wrong way to go. It's not as if those who cause death don't face more serious consequences.

[TWR]

Have a nice day, be carefull of the driver who uses his / her mobile phone! you could be the next.

[ToraToraTora]

well the 6 points + £200 doesn't come in till next year but yes it is still an issue. I have said many times it is far worse than DD and should be treated as such. I'd go along with 12month ban + bag a sand fine. We also need to make it socially unacceptable like DD has become. I think a bit more death and destruction will start to move us that way, I think there were 30 ish deaths in the last year.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Some police forces are 'suggesting' that all fines collected from the offence should be deposited in the local police funds to finance 'safety initiatives'.Could this increase police interest?

[Old_Geezer]

It would give them an inappropriate interest. Police should not have their priorities change in the chase for profit.

[Electrochem]

In my view, fines should be linked to a persons gross earnings.