MOBILE PHONES: BIG TROUBLE FROM NOW ON

New driving laws with phone in hand whilst driving Six points and £200 fine




The new laws come into effect on March 1 2017.



What is the new law on using your phone while driving, how much is the fine and do you get points on your licence?

THOUSANDS of drivers are caught each year by police after using their mobile phones at the wheel.

Despite several high-profile campaigns and the government hiking up the fine if you are caught, some motorists persist in texting and calling while on the road.

Drivers continue to use their phones at the wheel despite several campaigns
Alamy

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Drivers continue to use their phones at the wheel despite several campaigns
Here we take a look at the legality of talking on the phone while driving and the possible consequences as new laws come into effect.

Can you use a mobile phone while driving?

It has been illegal to touch a mobile phone – even with a hands free set – while driving since 2003.

This includes using a mobile to follow a map, read a text or check social media.

The law applies even if you are stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic as your engine is still running.

You can only use a handheld phone if you are safely parked or need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it is unsafe or unpractical to stop.

You can use hands-free phones – as long as you don’t press any buttons on your phone – sat navs and two-way radios when you’re driving or riding.

But if the police think you’re distracted and not in control of your vehicle you could still get stopped and penalised.

The law also applies to those riding a motorcycle.





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Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has said he will get tough on motorists who talk on the phone while driving
Driver caught on phone and watching tablet while driving in London rush hour
Do you have to pay a fine for using a mobile while driving?

The fixed penalty used to be £30 but in 2007 it was raised to £60.

This was raised again in 2013 to £100 and new legislation has now seen it double to £200.

Your case could also go to court and you could be disqualified from driving or riding and get a maximum fine of £1,000.

Drivers of buses or goods vehicles could get a maximum fine of £2,500.

If you're caught using a mobile while driving, how many points do you get on your licence?

Previously, drivers caught on their phones received three penalty points.

But new government legislation has seen the amount doubled to six points.

As new drivers only start with six points for their first two years on the road, a conviction will mean an instant ban.

Previously, motorists in some police force areas could avoid points by taking a remedial driving course.

But ministers believed it wasn't tough enough so the new regulations now mean those caught using a mobile phone for the first time will automatically receive penalty points.

Mum plays with her mobile phone while driving along in Devon as toddler sits next to her
You will currently receive three points but the government is planning to raise this to six
Alamy




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You will currently receive three points but the government is planning to raise this to six
If you use a mobile while driving what can happen?

Department for Transport figures show that a driver impaired or distracted by their phone was a contributory factor in 492 accidents in Britain in 2014.

More than 200 people have been killed by drivers distracted by their devices in the last 10 years.

And mobile phone use was a contributory factor in 43 fatal accidents since 2014 alone.

How many people are caught using a mobile while driving?

The number has fallen 84 per cent in five years, with just 16,900 receiving fixed penalty notices in 2015 compared to 123,100 in 2011.

But 31 per cent of motorists in a poll admitted they had committed the offence, compared to eight per cent in 2014.

During a week-long crackdown in November 2016 the police snared 8,000 drivers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

They issued 40 fines an hour while the campaign was in operation.

They also dished out 68 court summonses, delivered hundreds of verbal warnings and identified 117 other distraction offences such as eating while driving.

When do the new rules come into force?




The new laws come into effect on March 1 2017 (TODAY).

If you're a new driver and you get caught this means you could be facing a total ban.

So if you want to keep using your vehicle and avoid a £200 fine, program your sat nav before you set off and wait to reply to that text message until you're safely parked.

Bus driver filmed 'placing BETS' on his phone while driving through London
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Due to government cutbacks the chances of being caught are still slim.All this fancy legislation is fine as long as you've got the means to enforce it.

Due to government cutbacks the chances of being caught are still slim.All this fancy legislation is fine as long as you've got the means to enforce it.

Apparently they will be using footage from cameras as well?

good! people are fkin ridiculous these days on phones driving!

Due to government cutbacks the chances of being caught are still slim.All this fancy legislation is fine as long as you've got the means to enforce it.

Not true!

One local police force have stated that they will be 'stepping up' use of cameras and patrols to identify those using mobile phones whilst driving in their vehicles, so expect to hear of many 'examples' being made of over the coming months!

It has even been suggested that the use of photographic 'evidence' from roadside CCTV could be used

Not a bad call overall, tbh. You cannot possibly be concentrating fully on your driving with one hand on the wheel and the other either texting or trying to shove the phone back into the crook of your neck as your head is tilted one way or t'other in an effort to keep the phone to your ear!

A move most people won't be complaining about and (IMHO) a proactive response to an issue that is bigger than straying a couple of miles over a speed limit that is the same regardless of the traffic and weather conditions around it!

Another thing to consider is that six points on a young driver's license will result in an immediate ban and re-sit of their driving test (along with the inevitable insurance issues that would attach themselves)

Great news, the harsher the better.

Forget the fines and points just confiscate car for 2wks that will hurt more than fines ect! Repeat offender 4wks ect ect far more effective and potentially more costly ?

I have heard it said that this is as dangerous as drink driving. If that is the case, should'nt people caught using a mobile phone while driving face n automatic 12 month ban. I am fortunate that I don't know anyone who has been killed or injured as a result of driving while using a mobile phone, but I should think the family of victims of this sort of behaviour might think even 12 months off the road is not enough. I find it sad that people cannot survive without their phone for the duration of a car journey.

I have heard it said that this is as dangerous as drink driving. If that is the case, should'nt people caught using a mobile phone while driving face n automatic 12 month ban. I am fortunate that I don't know anyone who has been killed or injured as a result of driving while using a mobile phone, but I should think the family of victims of this sort of behaviour might think even 12 months off the road is not enough. I find it sad that people cannot survive without their phone for the duration of a car journey.

totally agree, make 12 months a minimum I say

No excuses hands free kits easily and cheaply available if car doesn't have one built in!! Most ridiculous time is seeing people using fone coming out car park? Ffs can't they wait 2 mins before leaving?

Due to government cutbacks the chances of being caught are still slim.All this fancy legislation is fine as long as you've got the means to enforce it.

Not true!

One local police force have stated that they will be 'stepping up' use of cameras and patrols to identify those using mobile phones whilst driving in their vehicles, so expect to hear of many 'examples' being made of over the coming months!

It has even been suggested that the use of photographic 'evidence' from roadside CCTV could be used

Not a bad call overall, tbh. You cannot possibly be concentrating fully on your driving with one hand on the wheel and the other either texting or trying to shove the phone back into the crook of your neck as your head is tilted one way or t'other in an effort to keep the phone to your ear!

A move most people won't be complaining about and (IMHO) a proactive response to an issue that is bigger than straying a couple of miles over a speed limit that is the same regardless of the traffic and weather conditions around it!

Don't disagree with anything you say there Sven but the old laws were adequate, trouble was theres no-one to enforce them.The only way you'll get the police to step up on a permanent basis is if they could have a percentage of the proceeds,christ were only hearing this week how under resourced the police are.

I don't touch my phone while driving. My phones Bluetooth connects to the radio to make calls and read text messages. I also keep the data on my phone off while driving.

I don't touch my phone while driving. My phones Bluetooth connects to the radio to make calls and read text messages. I also keep the data on my phone off while driving.

Well done mate. Your a f*cking hero.

switching that data off will save lives.

I don't touch my phone while driving. My phones Bluetooth connects to the radio to make calls and read text messages. I also keep the data on my phone off while driving.

Apparently the watchdog is trying to change the culture of driving and using a mobile. They want people to think of it in the same way as drink driving.

As a cyclist, I see people on their phones all the time whilst driving - it's dangerous

I don't touch my phone while driving. My phones Bluetooth connects to the radio to make calls and read text messages. I also keep the data on my phone off while driving.

Well done mate. Your a f*cking hero.

switching that data off will save lives.

At least he is less likely to destroy a family by killing a mother, father or child, unlike some of the morons you see on the roads every day.

Forget the fines and points just confiscate car for 2wks that will hurt more than fines ect! Repeat offender 4wks ect ect far more effective and potentially more costly ?

Confiscate phones for 2 weeks would probably have more effect on people as they would be saying "How can I go on living without my phone". They would have to actually speak to people face to face. How would they actually be able to that. f*cking MUPPETS!

I don't touch my phone while driving. My phones Bluetooth connects to the radio to make calls and read text messages. I also keep the data on my phone off while driving.

Well done mate. Your a f*cking hero.

switching that data off will save lives.

At least he is less likely to destroy a family by killing a mother, father or child, unlike some of the morons you see on the roads every day.

Correct, if the data is knocked off the phone don't beep and much and the driver won't have the temptation to touch it.

I don't touch my phone while driving. My phones Bluetooth connects to the radio to make calls and read text messages. I also keep the data on my phone off while driving.

Well done mate. Your a f*cking hero.

switching that data off will save lives.

At least he is less likely to destroy a family by killing a mother, father or child, unlike some of the morons you see on the roads every day.

Correct, if the data is knocked off the phone don't beep and much and the driver won't have the temptation to touch it.

If you get distracted by a beep you probably shouldn't be driving

I don't touch my phone while driving. My phones Bluetooth connects to the radio to make calls and read text messages. I also keep the data on my phone off while driving.

Well done mate. Your a f*cking hero.

switching that data off will save lives.

At least he is less likely to destroy a family by killing a mother, father or child, unlike some of the morons you see on the roads every day.

Correct, if the data is knocked off the phone don't beep and much and the driver won't have the temptation to touch it.

If you get distracted by a beep you probably shouldn't be driving

My phone rarely beeps as my data is not on much. I'm not someone constantly looking at my phone.