Fines for using mobile while driving to increase

ado

It doesn't matter how high the fine or number of points is, if there is little chance of getting caught. The number of traffic and response police has reduced massively during the last 5 years and its these police who normally catch mobile phone users. Cut their numbers and you reduce the chance of getting caught.

A few posters have mentioned using fixed cameras to catch mobile phone users but I don't think that is practicable. As a PC I see a lot of people driving with their right hand propping their head up or using a E cigarette to vape, both of which look like someone is using a mobile phone until you get closer or even talk to the driver. A traffic camera is not going to be able to differentiate between that and genuine mobile phone usage.

Norman_Castle

It amazes me how many people I see talking on the phone while parked who then start their car and drive away while continuing their call. Ridiculous.
First time offenders should be fined. Second offence should be a one month ban.

derrick

ElefantEd wrote: »

If they caught a higher proportion of people using mobile phones whilst driving that would solve the problem both more quickly and more fairly. As it is, the chance of getting caught is so low (does anyone have any data on the number of successful prosecutions?) that the punishment isn't really a deterrent (if you decide to do it in spite of it being both unsafe and against the law). But if you knew you would be fined, say, £30 every time you did it you would soon stop.

The penalty at the moment is £100.00 fine and 3 points, (4 times and you have a ban).
It won't stop, has fining + points and bans stopped speeding? No, and that has been going on for decades and will continue.

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[Deleted User]

EdGasket wrote: »

Does using the mobile as a SatNAV count as 'using a mobile while driving' as far as a potential fine and points are concerned? Obviously to interact with the mobile, you'd have to pick it up and program where you want to go, change volume, zoom in / out as per a SATNAV so might run the risk of being accused of making a call?

Jimmy Carr got off a fine by claiming he was using his mobile as dictaphone. Like him, you would nt be seen having it clamped to your ear if you re poking away at the screen

kathrynha

GingerBob wrote: »

Okay, so the fines are increasing, but get a load of this:


http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-35410646


Quote: "The consultation - which closes on 15 March - will also look at whether technology could be used to dissuade motorists from using their phones when they are behind the wheel.
Some technologies, it says, enable a phone to detect that it is moving faster (often at about 5-6mph) and divert the handset to a "drive safe mode". This prevents it from ringing and in some cases can send a text informing the caller or texter that the recipient is driving."

Later on it's acknowledged this this "could cause problems" - for people on trains, in coaches, passengers in the car :rotfl:
I'll say! Just who are these boneheads who come up with such ideas? Oh yes, a committee of MPs, that will be it. Bloody idiots!

The speed someone is moving is obviously not a good judge of whether they are driving.
My thought on a solution in cars having signal blockers activated when the engine is turned on.
Maybe with the blocker been switched off when there is a passenger, which could be worked out based on weight sat on the seat and temperature. Weight could be fooled by a large box, which is why temperature would be needed too. Obviously people will find ways round it, like sitting their large dog on the passenger seat, but it could prevent most.

LM9

As has been said, without enforcement any law or penalty is irrelevant. A bit of changing public opinion doesn't hurt either.

When I were a lad in the early 80s amongst the men in particular drinking and driving was at best the accepted norm and at worst a sign of how manly you were. Then the government and police had a major crack-down with police resources allocated to catching drunk drivers, courts instructed to ban in all cases and plenty of hard hitting TV adverts.

Sure people still drink and drive but numbers are reducing and it is socially frowned upon.

Something similar needs doing about phones, if the government is serious about stamping it out. Increased penalty points, maybe make using a phone automatically driving without due care and allocate police overtime to target offenders.

LM9

Norman_Castle wrote: »

It amazes me how many people I see talking on the phone while parked who then start their car and drive away while continuing their call. Ridiculous.
First time offenders should be fined. Second offence should be a one month ban.

Worst incidence I saw was a few years ago I was driving home along an unlit 40mph limit road at night and I saw a slight glow / reflection in front of me. I slowed down and was passed by a youth on a moped with no lights on and dressed all in dark clothing. The glow was his mobile phone he was holding by his knee, texting. Nothing in the papers about any fatal moped crashes so I assume he got home OK but he was very lucky if he did.

GingerBob_3

LM9 wrote: »

As has been said, without enforcement any law or penalty is irrelevant. A bit of changing public opinion doesn't hurt either.

When I were a lad in the early 80s amongst the men in particular drinking and driving was at best the accepted norm and at worst a sign of how manly you were. Then the government and police had a major crack-down with police resources allocated to catching drunk drivers, courts instructed to ban in all cases and plenty of hard hitting TV adverts.

Sure people still drink and drive but numbers are reducing and it is socially frowned upon.

Something similar needs doing about phones, if the government is serious about stamping it out. Increased penalty points, maybe make using a phone automatically driving without due care and allocate police overtime to target offenders.

What! You are joking, surely. How about allocating police normal time to getting out on the beat - on foot!

George_Michael

kathrynha wrote: »

My thought on a solution in cars having signal blockers activated when the engine is turned on.

But it's not always illegal to use a mobile phone whilst the vehicle is moving. You can legally call the emergency services when driving if it's unsafe or impracticable to stop and even though this probably doesn't happen too often, having a signal blocker wired up to the engine would make sure that it couldn't happen.
Imagine a woman being followed by someone that she thought meant her harm. At the moment she could continue driving and call the police, something that wouldn't be possible with a blocker fitted.

There are also a couple of other problems.
A blocker wouldn't only operate within the confines of the vehicle it's fitted in so it could potentially cause disruption to people outside and a blocker would also mean that hands free phones would also be inhibited.

AdrianC

George_Michael wrote: »

But it's not always illegal to use a mobile phone whilst the vehicle is moving. You can legally call the emergency services when driving if it's unsafe or impracticable to stop and even though this probably doesn't happen too often, having a signal blocker wired up to the engine would make sure that it couldn't happen.

It's also perfectly legal to use a mobile hands-free.

And that's just thinking about the driver, of course.