Safe Speed Forums

500 drivers a day fined over mobiles
By James Kirkup and Andrew Porter
Last Updated: 12:53AM BST 30/04/2008

Nearly 500 motorists are being fined every day for talking on mobile phones while driving, official figures will show today.

The Telegraph has learnt that the number of drivers who have paid such a fine rose by a third in a year.

In 2005, 129,700 motorists were issued with £30 fixed penalty notices for using a hand-held mobile phone.

The figures, to be announced today by the Ministry of Justice, will show that more than 168,000 fines were issued in 2006, a rise of 30 per cent.

Overall, the number of people guilty of careless driving offences increased by more than a quarter between 2005 and 2006.

Andrew Howard, the head of road safety at the AA, said last night that the figures were a welcome sign that the police were cracking down on careless driving.

"People are now being caught for using mobile phones and drivers need to be aware of that," he said.

"I think drivers would be pleased to hear this – it doesn't take much to show that when you have a phone in your hand you're at much greater risk of having an accident."

Robert Goodwill, the Tories' spokesman for roads, said: "This is a damning indictment of Labour's failure to clamp down on drivers who repeatedly flout the law.

"Labour's heavy reliance on speed cameras as a cash cow instead of actually properly policing the roads is being exposed."

Using a hand-held mobile phone was made illegal in 2003, when the penalty was limited to a £30 fine.

Last year, the law was toughened, with drivers now facing a £60 fine and three points on their licence if they are caught.

Police now check mobile phone records after accidents to see if the driver was making a call at the time.

Using a hand-held mobile phone was made illegal in 2003, when the penalty was limited to a £30 fine.

Robert Goodwill, the Tories' spokesman for roads, said: "This is a damning indictment of Labour's failure to clamp down on drivers who repeatedly flout the law.

"Labour's heavy reliance on speed cameras as a cash cow instead of actually properly policing the roads is being exposed."

Using a hand-held mobile phone was made illegal in 2003, when the penalty was limited to a £30 fine.

Last year, the law was toughened, with drivers now facing a £60 fine and three points on their licence if they are caught.

Police now check mobile phone records after accidents to see if the driver was making a call at the time.