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DRIVERS TO PAY DEARLY FOR DEFYING PHONE BAN

RYAN CRIGHTON

08:50 - 23 January 2007

Police last night vowed to vigorously enforce tough new penalties on drivers who persist in using their mobile phones behind the wheel.

Motorists caught chatting on their mobile phones will face a £60 fine - double the current penalty - and three points on their licence from February 27, it was announced in Westminster yesterday.

Police and politicians across the north and the north-east last night welcomed the crackdown on those defying the ban.

Grampian Police believe mobile phones are a significant factor in the region's grim roads death toll.

But one Highland road safety campaigner hit out at the new legislation, warning that hands-free devices, which remain legal, are equally as dangerous.

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said the increased punishments reflect the serious danger caused by the offence.

He said there had been a groundswell of public support for the law since its introduction in 2003, but 21% of motorists still admitted to breaking it.

Under the current legislation introduced in December 2003, the fine for using a mobile phone while driving is £30, with no penalty points.

From the end of February the fine will double to £60 with three penalty points.

In Grampian, where 62 people were killed on the region's roads in 2006, police vowed to get tough on drivers who continue to ignore the law.

A force spokesman said: "Grampian Police welcome the impending changes in the law and hope that the additional deterrent of penalty points will serve to focus the minds of motorists on their driving.

"The use of mobile phones while driving has been an offence for some time now and it should come as no surprise to any motorist who engages in this practice that they're stopped and dealt with by the police.

"In conjunction with all Scottish forces, Grampian Police will be very positive in the enforcement of these penalties when they become active."

Inspector John Smith, of Northern Constabulary's roads policing section, said that the increase in penalty was inevitable as drivers continued to flout the law.

He said: "We welcome the increase in penalty for the misuse of a mobile phone because anything which distracts drivers is a road safety issue.

"The failure on the part of a large number of motorists to comply with the current law has led to this increased penalty."

However, Paul Smith, the Tain-based founder of the Safe Speed campaign, said the new law still sent out the wrong message.

The 51-year-old said: "Driving while using a mobile phone can be extremely dangerous and appears to affect the way that drivers recognise road hazards.

"All the science tells us that the problem comes from the conversation rather than the act of holding the phone.

"The revised law will only apply to hand-held phones while hands-free phones are likely to be equally dangerous."

He added: "What worries me is that the law appears to condone hands-free phoning while driving, which is entirely the wrong message.

"Hands-free conversations are equally dangerous and the only advice we should be giving to drivers is don't phone and drive."

A television, radio and internet campaign to highlight the dangers and penalties for driving while using a phone was also launched yesterday.

Home Office figures for 2004 show nearly 74,000 fixed penalties were handed out for using a mobile while driving.

If police or the driver take the matter court, the maximum fine is £1,000 for car offences and £2,500 for vans, lorries, buses and coaches.

There was widespread support for the new legislation in Westminster.

Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson said: "I have seen cars and vans pass with drivers still using mobile phones, so clearly measures are still necessary to discourage their distracting and dangerous use.

"Having penalty points will definitely discourage drivers."

Dundee East SNP MP Stewart Hosie added: "If it increases safety and is not merely seen as another attack on motorists, then it is to be broadly welcomed."

Gordon Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce was sceptical. He said: "I have long supported the ban on drivers using nonhands-free mobile phones. I do not know what adding points to the punishment will do, but what the law requires is enforcement.

"A lot of people either don't know the law, don't care what the law is, or are prepared to defy the law."

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Isn't journalism strange. WHY were you the only person mentioned who had their AGE given for heavens sake?

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