Mobile Phones And Driving

[MantaRay]

On a couple of occasions now I've followed a vehicle where the driver has seemed either extremely tired [continuously drifting onto the hard shoulder lane then swerving back into the traffic] or incapacitated [drifting onto the grass verge and scrapping the barrier!]. In both cases I've found myself seriously concerned for the safety of other users and stayed behind these vehicles at a safe distance. Could I have called 999 and stayed behind these vehicles until the police showed up without fear of prosecution? The reason I've hesitated about this is because many motorists have been prosecuted whilst trying to get out of the way of emergency vehicles [i.e. bus lanes, etc] so I'm of the opinion that motoring laws [and their enforcement] seem more biased towards revenue than common sense.

[ll_billym]

Just memorise the car and number plate, pull over then phone the cops if you really feel you should but 999 is an emergency number not 'How's my driving'.

[EDDIE51]

Worth remembering that now if there is an accident all drivers involved have to hand over their mobile phones to the police. The phones are checked and if a call was answered while the car was moving ( this is shown by the automatic call location that all mobiles must have ) the driver will be prosecuted for using a phone while driving. The penalty for this is the same as drink driving.

[New Judge]

"The penalty for this is the same as drink driving. "

If only, Eddie, if only (though in my view it should be).

The maximum penalty for drink-driving is 6 months in prison. The offence carries a mandatory 12 month disqualification (36 months for a second or subsequent offence committed within 10 years of the first). The disqualification period is increased as the detected alcohol reading gets higher. The maximum penalty for using a hand held phone is a fine of £1,000 (£2,500 if driving an HGV or a bus). Magistrates have the option to impose a discretionary disqualification but the usual disposal is three penalty points. Most offences are dealt with by a fixed penalty of £100 and three points.

From the government's website on the mobile phone matter:
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When you can use a phone in your vehicle

If you’re the driver, you can only use your phone in a vehicle if you:
need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop
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Quite whether the circumstances described by MantRay necessitate calling 999 as an emergency is debateable and if a prosecution followed the courts would have to decide the matter.

[Baldric]

Could always fit a hands-free kit, they're not expensive