FINAL CALL FOR DRIVERS USING HAND-HELD MOBILES

Driving while using a hand-held mobile phone will soon be a specific offence, Road Safety Minister David Jamieson announced today.

The new offence will take effect from 1 December 2003. Initially offenders will be subject to a £30 fine, which can be increased to a maximum fine of £1000 if the matter goes to court. The Government is planning to legislate to make it an endorseable offence, so that drivers will get three points on their licence each time they are caught holding a phone.

David Jamieson said:

“Driving whilst using a mobile phone is dangerous. We are all too familiar with the sight of people driving along while holding and talking on their mobile phones. Any driver will be distracted by a phone call or text message. It affects the ability to concentrate and anticipate the road ahead, putting the driver and other road users at risk.

“Our decision to introduce this new offence will make the roads safer for us all. Missing a call won’t kill you – an accident quite possibly could.”

Research has demonstrated that if you drive and use a mobile phone you are four times more likely to have an accident. Hands-free calls are also distracting and drivers should be aware that they still risk prosecution for failing to have proper control of their vehicle, for careless or even reckless driving if use of a phone affects their driving in this way.

Notes to Editors
1. The decision follows a consultation ‘Mobile phones and driving - proposal for an offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving' www.roads.dft.gov.uk/consult/mobiles/index.htm, which began on 20 August 2002.

2. Comments were requested by 25 November and over 1,000 responses were received. Some 88% were broadly in favour of the introduction of a new offence.

3. The new offence will be created by a new regulation to be added to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. These will now be prepared and laid before Parliament to enable the new offence to take effect from 1 December 2003.

4. The £30 fixed penalty can be increased to a maximum fine of £1000 if the matter goes to court. Primary legislation is needed to make the offence subject to three penalty points. That will be introduced when a suitable opportunity arises.

5. A report, "The risk of using a mobile phone while driving", was commissioned by the Department from RoSPA and published last year. It summarises the information available on the mobile phones and driving and is available on line at www.rospa.com/pdfs/road/mobiles/report.pdf

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