Using a Hand-Held Phone whislt driving in the UK
Penalty Update - 27 February 2007 New legislation to increase the penalty for using a hand-held phone whilst driving will come into force on 27 February 2007. The current fine of £30 will increase to £60 and three penalty points on your licence. Penalty points can mean higher insurance costs. If you get six points within two years of passing your test, your licence will be revoked and you will need to re-sit the test. If the case goes to court, you could risk a maximum fine of £1,000, which rises to £2,500 for the driver of a bus, coach, or heavy goods vehicle.
New legislation to increase the penalty for using a hand-held phone whilst driving will come into force on . The current fine of £30 will increase to £60 and three penalty points on your licence. Penalty points can mean higher insurance costs. If you get six points within two years of passing your test, your licence will be revoked and you will need to re-sit the test. If the case goes to court, you could risk a maximum fine of £1,000, which rises to £2,500 for the driver of a bus, coach, or heavy goods vehicle. A driver can also be prosecuted for using a hands-free device if you are not in proper control of your vehicle when using the device. The penalties are the same - £60 fine and three points on your licence.
If you are an employer you can be prosecuted if you require employees to make or receive mobile calls while driving. It is an offence to cause or permit the use of a hand-held mobile phone when driving. It is also an offence to cause or permit a driver not to have proper control of a vehicle.
Callers also play an important role in keeping the roads safe. If the person you are speaking to is driving, please terminate the call and arrange to speak to them later.
Why are the penalties going up?
- It is hard to do two things at once and research has shown that if you are using a mobile phone whilst driving, you are four times more likely to have a crash.
- In fact, if you use any type of mobile be it hands free or hands held, your reaction times are worse than if you were driving under the influence of alcohol. Tests have shown that reaction times for drivers using a hand-held phone slows reactions by 50% when compared to normal driving and by 30% when compared to being drunk (Direct Line Mobile Phone Report 2002).
- The use of a mobile phone often involves distractions which could be visual, auditory, mental or physical (Direct Line Mobile Phone Report 2002).
- Even if you’re a careful driver, it’s easy to be distracted by a phone call or text message - and that split second lapse in concentration could result in a crash.
How does the law apply? While driving, you will be breaking the law if you pick up or use any type of phone that is, or must be, held to operate it. For example, this means you may not use your mobile phone:
While driving, you will be breaking the law if you pick up or use any type of phone that is, or must be, held to operate it. For example, this means you may not use your mobile phone:
- when you are stopped at traffic lights;
- when you are queuing in traffic;
- to receive calls, pictures, text messages or to access the Internet.
If you are an employer, you can be prosecuted if you require employees to make or receive calls while driving. Are there any exceptions?
- Yes - a driver may call 999 or 112 in response to a genuine emergency when it is unsafe or impractical to stop to make the call.
- Two-way radios are not covered by this offence but other devices for sending or receiving data are included if they are held while driving (eg. Personal Digital Assistants).
The best advice is to switch off before you drive off
- When driving you should use voicemail, a message service or call diversion so you can pick up messages later.
- Only use your phone after you have stopped in a safe place. But never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency.
- Avoid taking calls even on a hands-free phone while driving. They can be just as distracting. If you must answer, say you are driving and end the conversation. Otherwise you will put yourself and other road users at risk.
We are all responsible for safety on the roads. If you make a call to someone and realise they are driving, stop the call and arrange to speak to them later. You cannot see the hazards or judge the road conditions while you’re talking to a driver. And you wouldn’t want to distract the driver if you were in the car.