| On 1st February 2008 The THINK! mobile phones | | | | speak to them later at a more convenient time. |
| campaign was launched. | | | | Why did the penalties go up? |
| On 27th February 2007 the penalty for using a | | | | Research has proved that it is difficult to do two |
| hand-held phone whilst driving came into force. | | | | things at once and if you are using a mobile phone |
| The fine was increased from £30 to | | | | while driving, you are four times more likely to |
| £60 and three penalty points on your | | | | have a crash. |
| license. Having high penalty points could result in | | | | Surprisingly enough research has shown that your |
| increased insurance costs. If you get six points | | | | reaction time are worse when using any type of |
| within two years of passing your test, your | | | | mobile device than when driving under the |
| licence will be revoked and you will need to re-sit | | | | influence of alcohol!! (at the legal limit). Your |
| the test. You could also risk a maximum fine of | | | | reaction times when using a hand held mobile |
| £1,000, which rises to £2,500 for | | | | device are 50% slower when compared to |
| the driver of a bus, coach, or heavy goods | | | | normal driving and by 30% when compared to |
| vehicle. | | | | being drunk (Direct Line Mobile Phone Report |
| If you are not in complete control of your vehicle | | | | 2002). |
| when using a hands free mobile device you can | | | | There are many distractions that could be down |
| be prosecuted for this also. The penalties are the | | | | to the mobile phone: |
| same - £60 fine and three points on your | | | | - Visual |
| license. | | | | - Auditory |
| Employers are not let off either, you are not | | | | - Mental |
| allowed to require that your staff make/receive | | | | - Physical |
| calls while driving - it is now an offense to cause | | | | Are there any exceptions to the mobile phone |
| or permit the use of a hand held mobile phone | | | | ban whilst driving? |
| when driving. It is also an offense to cause or | | | | Yes there are exceptions to the penalty for using |
| permit a driver not to have proper control of a | | | | a hand held device while driving. A driver may call |
| vehicle. | | | | 999 or 112 in response to a genuine emergency. |
| You may have seen the advert where husband | | | | Two-way radios/walkie talkies are not covered |
| and wife are talking on the phone and an accident | | | | by this offense but other devices for sending or |
| happens while they are talking? If you call | | | | receiving data are included if they are held while |
| someone and they are driving, cancel the call and | | | | driving, i.e a PDA, Blackberry or similar device. |