New mobile phone laws - your views
 

Well at the end of Feb the penalty for driving using your mobile phone (without hands free) changes from a £30 fine to what will now be a £60 and 3 points on your license.

If you decide to go to court instead of taking the ticket, the fines for car drivers go up to £1000 and £2500 for vans, truck and bus drivers.

Personally i think this has long been overdue and i think it will force people to re-consider using their phones or spend some money o hands free.

So open for discussion, whats your views?

Fraser

Hang the *******s.

Seriously, I don't get it. It's like, what, a tenner for a headset?

Even my fancy Parrot bluetooth kit in my car was only about 90 quid. It irritates me beyond belief that so many drivers can afford a car worth more than I even earn a year (and it's often a Cayenne, Touareg, X5, etc etc) but are too tight-arsed to spend a little more on safety.

They deserve whatever they get.

Good, but to be honest, the original law hasnt made an impact because the over stretched force, just cant police it. I see a fair few on my way to work on the phone. I even saw a woman this morning in her beemer, on the phone, whilst trying to pull out of a side road in the snow. She went sideways, up the kerb etc...and she didnt move the phone once!!

911 Carrera Cabrio here yesterday... the tw@ was veering right and left in a two lane road, middle of the city, didn't even look in the mirrors for my flashing lights... :roll:

If i see someone on the mobile, i will pull them over and issue a ticket, the problem in my mind has been that people think that its only 30 quid.. and are quite happy to take the risk. I pull people over in their posh cars and they are like "come on hurry and give me a ticket so i can be on my way.."

Now with the threat of points... surely that will make people think twice??

I doubt it. People speed, they drink and drive, some even have a small number plate and a dark visor, and god forbid one of those loud exhausts, people break the road law generaly. its just another law that will be hard to police. You are just one in a force of many. Not everyone has your attitude.

I still think its a good idea though

i think its a very good idea. the addition of the points has given the offence more gravity, and i'm sure it'll work.

there will be serial offenders who not be able to stop then they'll carry on driving whilst banned therefore no insurance and around and around it goes

Good idea methinks...will certainly make me think twice about lifting me lid while riding my illegaly unrestricted 50cc piaggio down orpington high street :wink:

Great news!

...cos the current law has done SFA about it. Might make THEM think about the consequences of their actions (getting caught and the three points that is, not hitting some other road user or ped) :roll:

:)

Sorry guys but I'm not totally convinced it'll change anything. Currently I've been in cars with people on the phone and as it is they'll spot a cop and say 'hang on mate, cop coming up' and either just put the phone down while the cop's in view or call them back when the cop's out of sight.

The threat of points/fine doesn't stop people speeding, I'll be surprised if it changes people's phone habits.