Drivers to face tougher punishments

[AB Asks]

Drivers who use their mobiles or play around with satellite navigation systems could face up to two years in prison. Drivers could be charged with dangerous driving in a bid to keep their eyes on the road and no-where else. It could mean that if driver killed someone whilst on their phone they could face being jailed for 14 years for death by dangerous driving. Currently people who drive unsafely whilst on a phone will only receive a fine of up to �2,500 or face a community order. What do you think? Will this tougher approach change drivers' attitude to using their phones and other in-car technology?

[Haggisdj]

Only two years...

[Reverandfunk]

Whilst a persistent petty crimianl gets burger all.

Yes its a crime but I think we should get things in proportion.

[Pippa68]

What is the point in having techie stuff like Sat Nav in your car if you can't play around with them?

Take 'em all out, and while we are at it they should start manufacturing cars without ashtrays.

[Reverandfunk]

Pippa how dare you lol. I shall just flick my nub end out the window at you lol.

Lets get real, we are releasing prisoners early because there aint room in the prisons so jailing people for messing with sat nav? No chance.

Ban talking to your passenger as well.

[NJOK]

Odd sense of proportion.

I'd rather someone nicked a few DVD players than put lives at risk because they think their phone call is so important they have to make it while driving a car.

Depends how highly you value your DVD player though.

[Pippa68]

Exactly, Rev.

BTW my point about ashtrays is valid..lol. I am not anti-smoking..Mr Pippa would strangle me if I was ;o)

[Pippa68]

The trouble is NJOK they have manufactured all these gadgets...Sat Nav, mbile phones etc. I can understand the law against people holding their phones and driving (incidently I spotted 5 people doing that today) but why manufacture the headset and then say it is dangerous driving to be talking on it?

[jake-the-peg]

They could get 2 year but in actual fact the recommended sentence for dangerous driving first offence pleading guilty is a level 5 fine and/or 6 months.


Which is exactly the same as Burglary as it happens.