does anybody know of anyone who has been prosecuted for using a handheld mobile phone whilst driving? I've never seen anything in the papers, etc and wondered how much of a deterrent the law is. I reckon I see at least 10 people doing it in the space of an hour in Brighton each day.
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o/t Using Mobile Phones whilst driving
- Thread starter timbha
- Start date
Wardy
NSC's Benefits Guru
Is it not just a fixed fine and points?
Statto
007
I cant understand why people do it. Its just asking for an accident. The pumishment should be greater IMHO.
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dougdeep
New member
I've seen a few people texting while driving lately. Muppets!
Eggmundo
U & I R listening to KAOS
- Jul 8, 2003
- 3,466
Has anyone known or heard of someone causing an accident due to them being on the phone whilst driving?
I never drive and use the phone and used to gesticulate at people if they were on their phones but I don't anymore...is it really that dangerous?
Wife had a go at a bloke who was on his phone the other day, cock wasn't paying any attention to the fact that the crossing lights were red and was coasting across (traffic stacked in front of him.). If I had of been there I would have quite happily punched his bonnet (it would have hurt i know but It was a BMW so would have been worth it!, and they are the worst.).
I never drive and use the phone and used to gesticulate at people if they were on their phones but I don't anymore...is it really that dangerous?
Wife had a go at a bloke who was on his phone the other day, cock wasn't paying any attention to the fact that the crossing lights were red and was coasting across (traffic stacked in front of him.). If I had of been there I would have quite happily punched his bonnet (it would have hurt i know but It was a BMW so would have been worth it!, and they are the worst.).
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Collar Feeler
No longer feeling collars
- Jul 26, 2003
- 1,322
Its a £30 fixed penalty but no points. I could dish them out like confetti all day if I had nothing better to do and i do issue them on occasion. Prosecution would usually only occur if the person is driving a Van, Bus or Lorry since it is deemed more dangerous given the size of the vehicle and the fact that usually the person drives for a living and is behind the wheel more often.
I am led to understand that the penalty is likely to increase to £60 and 3 points in the near future since the current penalty appears to be little deterrent.
I know I am biased being a copper but the danger to me is plain to see when someone on their mobile blindly passes me at a junction in a fully marked bright yellow and blue police car and doesn't even see me. I have also been to a number of accidents where various parties have alleged the other was 'on their mobile'. Difficult to prove in court though unless there are multiple witnesses or we as police see it ourselves.
I am led to understand that the penalty is likely to increase to £60 and 3 points in the near future since the current penalty appears to be little deterrent.
I know I am biased being a copper but the danger to me is plain to see when someone on their mobile blindly passes me at a junction in a fully marked bright yellow and blue police car and doesn't even see me. I have also been to a number of accidents where various parties have alleged the other was 'on their mobile'. Difficult to prove in court though unless there are multiple witnesses or we as police see it ourselves.
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Lord Bracknell
On fire
I've seen drivers overtake at speeds well in excess of the speed limit, crossing double white lines as they do so.
And there hasn't been a head-on collision.
Does that mean that we should abandon speed limits and remove double-white lines?
And there hasn't been a head-on collision.
Does that mean that we should abandon speed limits and remove double-white lines?
Wardy
NSC's Benefits Guru
I know it will not happen but I think instead of fining or giving points. It should be a 6 month ban from owning a mobile phone.
Gully
Monkey in a seagull suit.
I was followed this morning by a woman who was filing her nails and driving at the same time, God knows how much control she had over her car, by my reckoning it was very little. I also saw a woman with a car full of children, none of them had seat-belts on. I think the Police should be able to issue a one week driving ban for those types of offences (including mobile phone use), spending 7 days without use of your car would probably be a far more severe inconvenience than a £30 fine or three points on the licence. If this was enforcable immediately, that is to say on the roadside, it would cause incredible inconvenience to the fools who carry on doing it and place the lives of other road users in danger.
Collar Feeler
No longer feeling collars
- Jul 26, 2003
- 1,322
Sandbag said:
The earlier point about the Police and/or insurance company checking with the mobile phone company to match the timing of the call with the time of the accident is not something I have ever heard of and I'm in the job! I guess you might consider doing that in the most extreme case where someone has died but you would have to match the exact time of the call with the exact time of the accident. That is virtually impossible in practice because you are rarely going to be able to pinpoint the exact time of an accident to any accuracy other than within a minute or so. The best evidence you might get was that around the time of the accident a call was made from that mobile phone. Not enough to convict without compelling additional evidence.
South Yarra Seagull
Member
They are pretty harsh on driving while on a phone, or even having a phone near your face over here...
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrpdf/regservices/indexedfinesandpenalties.pdf
$141 fine and 1.65 penalty points...
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrpdf/regservices/indexedfinesandpenalties.pdf
$141 fine and 1.65 penalty points...
dougdeep
New member
I've seen people reading books on the motorway, newspapers too. I've seen police do stupid things on many occasions.