Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37389800

About time imo

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Indeed l agree but the problem is there is nobody around to catch the culprits and enforce the law so l can still see quite a few of these drivers continuing to do it sadly.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

That's just like speeding or driving without insurance, licence or road tax. The odds are all the same on being caught. Luckily all those that are caught are in the frame of mind that it'll never happen to them.

It's pretty great when they get caught by an unmarked car though. Seen exactly this yesterday

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Seems a bit extreme really, I dont see how its twice as serious as other offences, and as pointed out above, largely unenforced anyway. I see people on the phone every day.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Just don't use a hands free mobile while driving then you will not worry about the 6 points and the £200 fine.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Charity blasts 8,600 'selfish, irresponsible and potentially deadly' drivers still on the road despite racking up 12 points or more

Whats the point if the judges won't enforce the law.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

I think you mean *do* use hands free ?

(I dont know why you think I would be worried, I've had H/F built into my cars for years, long before any laws existed).

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

The judges are enforcing the law ,it's the law itself that is failing .The law allows exceptions to a ban it's that exception that needs to be removed then the magistrates won't have it as a sentencing option

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Opps my typo.:erm:

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

If caught the police should seize your car and make you walk.

sod 6 point, it should be a mandatory 12 points and 2 year ban £2,000 fine.

Then made to take the full extended driving tests.

No hard ship pleas should be considered as it's been illegal since 2008 to hold a phone while driving.

Kill someone it should be a life ban.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

I have no problem with this but when you look at many new cars you'll see a plethora of buttons, menus driven screens etc. all of which are more than capable of taking one's mind off the actual driving for long enough to be a potential problem.

Responsibility is what's key here (as it is with drink/drug driving) but seeing how so many young people, especially, appear virtually umbilically linked to their phones and unable to resist any notification, I think it's going to take a long while before the message gets through.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

The biggest issue i have is people who text and drive ,there is absolutely no need for it .Texting takes a lot more concentration off the road than simply talking to a hands free system and i have to say it's mostly women i see doing it ,9 times out of 10 if i'm stopped at the traffic lights and a woman is next to me she will have a phone on her lap

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Well that's because she'll have a coffee or bowl of museli in her hands... :D

Truth is that people tend to be far too blase about driving and do things which are potentially dangerous when they ought to be concentrating on the road ahead. I'm not sure if it's a local trait but the number of people I see driving around with dogs on their laps, dashboards or otherwise roaming around in the front of their cars is staggering.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Mine is 100% hands free, all I need to do is set the phone to Car Mode before I set off.

I tell it to call "X" and location it calls them

I can say "answer" or "reject" when I get a call.

Texts are read or I can say what I want to say and it types it.

All 100% hands free, I can even set the Phones SatNav by voice.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

there has been a law out for several years but the police wont enforce it.

I drive to work each day using the Twickenham Road onto the A4. I must see at least 40 DRIVERS blatantly using phones at the wheel.

If they put a copper at the top of my road that leads to Twickenham Road. They would get loads of them.


Its no point in bringing out this law UNLESS it is enforced. They should give powers to Traffic Wardens to do this. As simply the police don't have enough time to do this. Unless they actually see happening.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Its more a deterrent and is meant to put people off, or make them think twice.

Drive??? I thought you cycle to work??

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

The argument goes that it distracts you and makes you more likely to have an accident.

Fine.

It should be illegal for ALL people behind a wheel, especially INCLUDING the police. Even those little radios on their lapels as they have to take a hand off the wheel to use them.

There can be no exceptions, the police are human beings and get distracted as much as anyone else.

If they try the "we're professional drivers" stuff, well, so am I, doing over 4,000 miles a month, more than many police I suspect, so I should be exempt as well by their argument...

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Arthur contradicts himself spectacularly once again.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

clearly the answer is to allow the public to use camera phones to catch people in the act plus numberplate, say a £10 reward each time.

It'd stop overnight.

Use Technology to stop people abusing technology.


The only thing yuo need to consider is - Am I joking?

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Hopefully not whilst they too are driving. It would also be classed as "using a mobile phone". :confused:

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

I'm all for the penalties being the same as drink driving as many tests have shown it to be as detrimental to the ability to safely drive.

If we want a technical solution: Most smart phones have GPS and so can detect if they are moving. Block the calls/texts/browsing etc if the phone is moving too fast. I realise this would impact passengers and those using public transport but a bit of disconnected time would be good for many.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

That is true, we used to have radios in our cars and I was a whole lot more dangerous using them than I would be a phone. Wonder why they aren't going after cyclists on the phone or with headphones on, that's got to be a more dangerous potentially.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

They are one-way radios and exempt, same as CB radios and similar.

Besides unless you make double crewed cars mandatory for Police and paramedics then you need to find some way to be able to talk to them as they blue light to an emergency call.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Vox & throat mic or similar.

Arguably the radios are just as distracting as a phone, you're still holding a piece of plastic you talk into on a radio as a phone. It's a stupid exemption and we do now have the technology to make the exemption obsolete.

I'm not condoning the mobile phone law - I think it's sensible, I do however also believe there's no real difference between a radio or a phone on loudspeaker and both should be banned.

I'm reasonably sure as Jo Public if I was to drive about holding a walkie talkie or some such, I'd be done for undue care or similar.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Some Sat Nav's now link to phones to get extra data so if stopping the phone "working" when moving would then stop that function working unless there are exceptions in the coding then how would you make the exceptions.

With hand held phones it's also easy to police. You do not need to make that call while driving, especially on hand held unit. You don't need to receive that call either. My work phone uses the SatNav as hands free and if I get called I just tell the person I'm driving and when I can focus on their call. If it's simple I may give an answer but else the other person just has to wait.

With the police the exemption you do have to remember that unlike normal callers the other end is likely to be aware of the driver situation and the conversation is often linked to the situation. The police driver is also trained for the situation and likely would not reply immediately if unsafe.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

You're making the assumption that 'Jo Public' is as well trained in the art of driving as a police officer.....

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

You are also making the assuption that all police officers have completed the advanced driving course.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Radio or not, you still have to take your hands off the wheel to use them. If it's unsafe when I do it it's just as unsafe when they do it. In fact it's worse, at least I have a hands free kit....

..if it needs double crewed that's the way that it is.

I think I'll get a walkie-talkie then when I get pulled I can simply say "tough luck mate, they're exempt", wonder how far that will get me?

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

AFAIK (Derek will be able to confirm if I'm right or wrong) any driver blue lighting has to have undertaken an advanced driver course. I'm sure the college of policing sets the framework/standards.

My memory is hazy as it's a long time since i worked for the police !!

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Advanced courses aren't mandatory, apparently...

http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/blue-light-use/

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

From that article.....

There is no requirement for people driving emergency vehicles to be trained beyond a normal driving licence. Drivers of police, fire and ambulance vehicles who wish to be exempted from speed limits will be required to be officially trained. This rule has been included in a 2006 Act but it has not yet been made law. At present there is no indication as to when it will be made law. There are concerns that there will be too much demand for the existing driver training courses.

I'd be absolutely gobsmacked if there were any services who allowed people who need to be exempt from speed limits to drive without having taken the official training. I suspect most services will self regulate as a matter of best practice. Again I suspect Derek could answer this better

I suspect the only way to find out would be an FOI request.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

You need to take your hand off the steering wheel when you change gear with a manual gearbox!

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Six points for changing gear !!!!

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Not sure about England/Wales but certainly up here using the blue lights to go to incidents you need to have passed a full driving course either standard (roughly equivalent to advanced driver status) or advanced (very demanding high speed course for traffic or surveillance drivers)

You can drive Police cars without those courses and can use blue lights to stop vehicles but if you break the rules you will more than likely find yourself out of a job, as more than a couple of cops have found out to their cost that I know of.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

It's not only the hands use that's the issue, it's the distraction. The law is a bit of a fudge as hands free is nearly as bad as hand held phones.

I bet as a passenger, you go quiet when talking to a driver when there's a complex bit of road coming up without even thinking about it...

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Even MFSW can cause problems though. SWMBO has a juke and the buttons for adjusting volume etc are tiny and have on more than one occasion caused me to take my eyes off the road.

Not that i drive it often, it's FUGLY !!

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

It's a fudge law, I still don't see the distinction between one box you hold. We'll call it a phone and another one, we'll call this one a radio.

Dangerous is dangerous. Ban one, ban em all, else its a fudge.

It's a fudge.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Or, you could see one as a necessity and the other as not?

Are you against the seatbelt exemption regulations, or the ability to break the speed limit? Something us normal drivers also aren't allowed to do


I do wonder however why there isn't in car technology for speakers mic etc to link to the radio and for voice traffic to be routed over when an airwave device is in range. something to do with pressing the button possibly ?

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

No. I see that technology has reached the point that an exemption for radios doesn't need to be there now. Unless the police are still using those curly wired rotary dial earpieces in their cars?

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

10 points for driving a car

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

-50 for riding a motorbike :monkey:

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

I can only speak annecdotaly on this. I had a friend in the Met who was over the moon when he passed his advanced drivers course and from what he told me it was intense.

At that time it meant he was allowed to ignore normal traffic laws if responding to an emergency or in persuit.

A lot of people think the advanced driving course they take just teaches them how to drive fast in a safe way but it is more than that. It also teaches you to be aware of what is happening around you and ahead of you.

You have to give a running commentary to the instructor (and examiner) of what you are doing and why.

An exapmle would be " I can see a shop ahead with 2 cars parked outside, a person has just walked out and may be going to one of the cars. Can I pass safetly or do I need to give them a bit more room? What traffic is coming towards me on the other side of the road, if I give that pedestrian more room if they head to the drivers door will it affect the traffic approaching? How do I avoid an incident?

That's why those that say they are "Professional" drivers make me laugh, they don't know the half of it.

That was the case in the 1990's I see no reason why it should be different now.

BTW he asked me to frame his certificate which I did for the extortinate fee of 2 pints.:D

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

A good pal of mine is a paramedic for a private ambulance firm and they undertook blue light training around 2 years ago, prior to that they just did it but then they were a shoddy firm before being taken over.

---------- Post added at 16:59 ---------- Previous post was at 16:54 ----------


To much technology in cars imo, the new vw has a 7 inch screen that alerts you to social media updates as you're going along!

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

I see no reason why bluetooth connectivity isn't mandatory in cars ,after all we forced seat belts on to drivers and then passengers to good effect ,why not bluetooth and then there will be no excuse for drivers to use a handheld phone

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Because you can't bluetooth Facebook and snapchat probably. We've gone well beyond ye olde phone & text now.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

That's the crux of the issue ,not educating people to drive safely and responsibly but to survive 5 mins without facebook or twitter

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Neither of those are requirements for driving a car.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

You know that, I know that, the rest of the Country.... not so sure.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Any deterant which helps to save lives is a good thing. This day and age you need eyes in your rear end, what with 37 million vehicles on our roads which I my add will only get worst as time passes.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

If only something existed that mean't we didn't need eyes in the back of our heads.

We could call it a myrer, no, a mirrah, no a mirraw.

Nope, i give up, it will never happen or catch on.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Penalties, Crimes can be as tough as they want to be.

it just needs a policeman (which we don't have any) to see it that makes it work.

that's why they say they're getting tough. to distract you from the fact that there aren't any policemen.
and to distract you from the dramatic increase in crime due to people noticing there are no police.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Lets put it this way.
I believe that there should be a total Ban on Mobiles in the vehicle, even hands free. As the law is such an ass. That there isn't anyone around to enforce it.

Since this news was brought out. I stood at the top of my road, and there was still drivers on the phone, and even Text messages.

What they courts should do is BAN ALL DRIVERS for two years if they get stopped.

The courts are governed by the Lord Chancellors office.

Remember, that the vehicle that we drive are KILLING MACHINES, and you only have to take your eyes of the road for a minute and BANG

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

It's not the vehicles that are dangerous it's the idiots in control of them.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Very true

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Just like guns then.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Not just mobile phones - they guy in a Range Rover behind me this morning was rolling a cigarette at the steering wheel! Strange hows it's always big car drivers that are like this.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Spot on.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Apparently nearlly a third of all drivers admitted using their phone whilst driving (how on earth did they get this stat) from 37 million vehicle users.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Because there are NO coppers about anymore, drivers will continue to use mobile phones.

The biggest invention that catches speeding drivers, could be to nick drivers - CCTV cameras.

Best invention out. There are so many cameras out there, the Law should use them

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Well there ARE cops out there just none enforcing that law.

Its not simple or easy to have people watching CCTV trying to see in cars. Think about it.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

GMP having a crackdown

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....kdown-11919246

Expect To see other forces following suit.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

There are plenty of coppers out there but their job isn't solely to catch people using mobile phones ,they will have a crack down on phones for a couple of months and then move on to seat belts or child seats ,this is how it's always been done and how it will continue to be done

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Idiot jumped a red light today. the woman pushing her baby in a pram noticed he wasn't stopping so she didn't cross. turns out he was on his mobile and didn't notice the red light.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

Apparently the number using phones while driving has dropped.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37484056

Load of cobblers, there's more than ever. The real reason is that there less traffic cops than ever before (well done Dave and George). Those that are there can't be bothered as its too difficult to prosecute. White van man certainly seems to be exempt from this law.

Crush the cars (and phones) of offenders, forget points.

Re: Tougher penalties for using mobile phones when driving
 

You're reading it wrong.
it is true that fewer people have been caught. because there's no police.

it's true that more people are doing it.
because there's no police.

I think a lot of people using mobile phones are making believe they don't give a fig. are hard. are not scraed of being caught.

obviously until the moment they do give a fig. they're not hard and are given a fine and points.

we all know that they panic when they see the police and that it's all a front in the way they seem to go out of their way of cruising slowly making it obvious that they are using their phone.

pussies really. purrrrr