Mobile phone driving ban underway
New laws come into force today meaning that it is now illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving.
Drivers will face a £30 on-the-spot penalty for breaking the law, but could be fined up to £1,000 if their case goes to court.
The decision to ban the use of handheld mobile phones while driving has prompted motorists to rush out and buy hands-free mobile phone kits.
While police in England and Wales have been told to give verbal warnings until February, officers in Scotland say they will be prosecuting and imposing fines from day one.
Campaigners welcome the law as a way to improve road safety by increasing drivers’ concentration, but a number of organisations are pushing for a government ban on hands-free kits as well, claiming the new law doesn’t go far enough.
One such critic is the road safety charity Brake, which is calling for the government to ban all mobile phones in cars. Chief executive Mary Williams said: “The use of hands-free kits while driving may not be illegal yet, but they certainly do not make driving any safer.”
Transport minister David Jamieson has urged drivers to refrain from making calls at all while driving.
“You are four times more likely to be involved in an accident when using a mobile phone and driving – and this new offence will help make our roads safer,” he said.
“For their own safety and that of other road users, I hope motorists will stop using their phones when driving. We don’t want to catch people – we want them to drive safely.”
The AA has warned drivers that stopping on motorway hard shoulders to take mobile calls can lead to fines of up to £2,400.
