6 Penalty points

From next year drivers caught using a hand held device will receive 6 penalty points and a large fine.

Not before time.

 

Good. The amount of accidents I've almost been involved in recently when the driver of the other car has either been texting or on the phone is incredible.

The RAC allegedly did a survey recently which found that a 3rd of people admitted to using their phone behind the wheel, which was up from 8% in 2014.

I don't understand how people do it. I struggle to turn the radio up when I'm driving nevermind text someone.

Sent from my phone using my hands

 

When your sat in standing traffic take notice of the people coming the other way using their phones it's unreal.

 

Ought to be an instant ban. It's as unsafe as drunk driving for me, eyes off the road whilst texting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Agree with that. And like OPL, should also carry a prison sentence. That would be unlikely to be used much, but it would flag up to the Police that they might want to take this offence more seriously.

 

Agreed.

 

As a motorbike rider I am constantly scanning the traffic and I find it amazing how many people are on their phone whilst driving. It should be an automatic 12 month ban for anyone caught using it.

 

i know people who still use a phone whilst driving and soe have done it when im in the car with them i go mad i snatched the phone of one of my mates he was texting more than changing gear

 

It won't make any difference whatsoever. The problem is now at epidemic levels and this is partly because they just don't feel as though they're going to get caught. It should be an instant ban for anyone caught using a mobile while driving - this might act as a deterrent to the idiots who think it's ok to use a phone while driving.

 

The sheer number of people that do it is crazy. It is so dangerous. I was on the magic roundabout in Hemel Hempstead recently notorious for being hard to manoeuvre at the best of times and someone nearly went into me on there on their phone!!

I do think snapchat has added to this problem I see a lot of snapchats from people at the wheel of the car. The age of unwarranted self importance where everyone feels their every move needs archiving for posterity.

 

But who's going to catch them?
The police cannot do it, they simply can't. They may get the one person they actually see but the thousands of others get by unnoticed.. apart from being seen by you and me !

 

Does this mean holding a hand held device or using a hand held device hands free. The number using phone to their ear is amazing and i defiantly support big fines. Maybe the drink drive laws should change to this of Scotland too.

 

Far too weak. Should be automatic driving ban.

 

We shouldn't need an army of traffic officers to police this, it should just be something that people don't do because it is dangerous. Drink driving is seen as socially unacceptable but would more people take the risk if they knew that getting caught only meant some points on your licence? Using a mobile should be treated the same and any caught should be banned. Texting while driving should also carry a prison sentence.

 

I saw a man on a bike going up the A19 as it was getting dark,no lights, no reflective jacket, both hands off the handle bars and texting!

 

I'll be honest & admit I've used mine plenty of times when I'm in standing traffic. Never use it whilst driving though.

I can't understand why smoking at the wheel is allowed though. You can drop a phone if you're talking on it but you can't drop a cig in the car

 

How many of these people texting are looking for Pokemon?

 

I've never understood this. One hand holding the cig at all times so not on the wheel (normally hanging out of the window or do mouth) and as you say if you drop it or ash onto an uncovered area of yourself you're going to cause serious problems. Not to mention the people who are lighting up whilst driving!

 

See it every morning. Sat there head bowed texting or browsing Facebook, makes my blood boil every time I see it. Let's hope the points & fines are rigidly enforced.

 

Was on some driver awareness course earlier this year for going through a red a bit late (Naughty, I know, I've learned my lesson) they said the trouble isn't the holding of the phone or even the typing its actually the conversation. They said holding a conversation with someone in the car is just as dangerous but obviously impossible to police. Found it interesting. They had an exercise where you had to chat to the person sat next to you and spot hazards on a video and you could really see their point.