What do you think is the current law in the UK about using mobile phones whilst driving?

bluetoes25

By the amount of muppets I see on the road using their phones whilst driving I actually thought that there wasnt a law in exsitence, I recently saw a woman mount the pavement and hit a tree while talking on her phone and she still had the phone to her ear as people were running to her aid !!, these people have no regard for other people and obviously think they are clever by multi tasking in this way, when I see anyone performing this ridiculous activity I shout at them out of my window!!

jude

i have seen people ,when they are driving whilst using a mobile and not paying attention to other road users,IE pulling out at roundabouts,swaying from left to right on the road,not seeing whats going on the road they are on,IF they caused an accident would they know, no they may not , that's why they ask for hands free

Spanner

I do not know........but. When you last had a passenger in your car whilst driving, and was engaged in conversation, did you find the conversation interrupted by road conditions, traffic and so on, of course you didn`t, but because both you and the passenger only spoke in between the `gaps` in the process of driving, neither of you noticed that the conversation was actually stilted. Both of you only spoke when `driving` allowed it. This dose`nt happen with the phone because the other person does not know when to pause talking and because they may be talking when they should be allowing you to concentrate you land up trying to
listen to the other person instead of concentrating on the road. The use of telephones in vehicles should be made totally illegal.

solo4069

Use a hands free phone only when absolutely necessary. Texting messages is a complete No No. Using a hand held phone is not only a danger to others but to yourself as well. The law is there to protect all. This law needs to be more strictly enforced with tougher penalties for those that choose to ignore it. Currently penalties are a fixed fine with 3 points on your licence. More if you you have a driving without due care and attention charge.

c.j.davies

All I know is the current law is you can use hands-free but not hold it to your ear and definitely not text cause you are taking your eyes off the road. But I don't know what the current penalty is but I think they should get 3 points and a heavy fine.

Eggo

Hi,
I personally think there should be more publicity to explain this.
TV has adverts about the dangers of smoking etc. They should have something similar about the use of mobiles whilst driving.

More severe penalties, bigger fines - 6 points etc, might deter people a bit more, but people nowadays have no, or little respect for the law, because it fails them in so many ways.

I personally use a bluetooth headset, and try not to answer my phone when driving, preferring to ring back when convenient.

Its really annoying that other drivers can't be as considerate, because I have had a few new misses because of people using their phones when driving.

You are fighting a battle you cant win - unless you impose tougher penalties.

tattyteddybears

whilst out driving i see alot of people using a mobile phone and i think its a disgrace. i feel like stopping next to them and saying 'do u want to kill everyone on the road'? i neva use my mobile while driving and dont intend to start. the penalty is 3 points and a big fine. not sure what the new law will be though.

rochford6

all the information you need on the current legislation on using mobile phones while driving can be found in the link below

emess48

Yes we all know it's illegal to use a mobile phone & text while driving(I see it every day-i'm a bus driver) BUT who is policing our roads to catch these people? Cameras don't do it.What about drivers who drive with one arm out of the window,they are NOT in control of their vehicle one handed.Until we get MORE police OUT of the office(doing paperwork) & ONTO the streets catching the wrongdoer,NOTHING will change,even with the threat of points on your licence & higher fines, because there is NOBODY out there to enforce the law.

proofreadergirl

I understood from the Daily Telegraph that hands-free is against the law too, but no doubt you would only be prosecuted for this if you caused an accident.

On country lanes now a new hazard is to round a corner and almost collide with car pulled over because someone is on the phone. I think an awful lot of drivers need a freshener course on safe and unsafe parking.

Edit: I agree with Vida and meant to give her a thumbs up but pressed thumbs down by mistake - sorry.

JENNIFER A

the law should impose an 3 month bad on using mobile phone while driving i use a mobile with a hands free kit if they are caught the second time it should be a 12 month ban

roadrunner99_5

the use of mobile phones while driving is illegal, however, you are allowed to use handsfree, providing it does not interfere with your ability to drive. TEXTING IS OUT, this would mean that you are driving with undue care and attention, be careful with this one if you are doing it.

As of 1 December 2003, penalties were introduced with a fixed fine of Â£30, or a fine on conviction of up to Â£1,000 plus three penalty points on the driverâ€™s licence.

So, it is best never to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving, as you are not in full control of the vehicle.
It is also best not to use a hands free phone while driving, as you will still be distracted and your mind will not be fully on your driving. It is not like talking to a passenger, who is aware of the traffic conditions and can see what is happening whilst your are driving.
Keep the phone switched off, use voicemail or divert call to take messages.
Only use the phone after you have stopped in a safe place.

Buzzbee

At present the law states that a Â£30 is enforceable if caught using a hand held mobile phone. No penalty is in-forced if "hands free".
The new law will in-force a Â£60 fine and 3 points for using a hand held phone (Car driver) heavier penalties for Bus and Lorry drivers. I think this should be extended to the use of hands free phones as well.

Catwhiskers

As far as I am aware, at the moment, you can use a hands free but you are not allowed to hold the handset or text and if you are caught it is an automatic Â£40 fine and 3 points on your licence.
It is not doing much good however as I constantly see people talking on phones at the wheel putting other drivers and passengers at risk.
Hopefully the new laws will be more severe.

Mike S

I commute to work on my motorcycle and have had numerous close shaves with drivers on their phones instead of concentrating on their driving.
Until a sufficient deterrent is introduced then I fear this habbit will continue.
Confiscation of the handset would make a difference I'm sure.

peter o

you should not use a mobile.when your driving.full stop

rajeev0706

Mobile phones are not to be used whilst driving.

Gina_06

A Complete Ban on them ! my daughter was texting on her phone , she skidded of the road and ended upside down in a field, luckily she or my 5 yr old grandaughter had their seat belts on and weren't hurt,so I think that they shouldn't be used at all while driving.

G

My understanding of the current law is that you must NOT use a mobile phone AT ALL while driving. But I have still seen dozens (some of driving large lorries) of drivers using hand held mobiles, while going down very narrow lanes that are just one vehicle wide.

Alex

It is now against the law to use a mobile phone while driving, but there are always those who think it doesn't mean them. You can expect a hefty fine if caught, Â£1000 and 3 points on your licence, plus a criminal record. Hands-free, however, is allowed at present. But this apparently will be illegal shortly too.

It is not possible to concentrate properly if you are using a mobile phone when you are driving. I have seen people waving both arms around gesturing to someone to whom they are talking.

Neil

It doesn't matter what the law is, so long as our government believes that all accidents are caused by speeding and that cameras rather than trained traffic cops are the way to police our roads, and that motorists breaking the laws are an easy source of revenue rather than someone whose behaviour needs to be intelligently corrected. Speed cameras cannot detect drivers using mobile phones. Fines alienate rather than teach.

We need more police officers patrolling our roads (sitting in a speed camera van does not constitute patrolling). Then the laws on phone, seatbelts, foglamps, defective lighting, etc. will matter, and our roads will be a much safer place.

heebygeeby

i have no idea,i don't use my phone at all while driving. But i see many people doing it. It doesn't matter what the laws and restrictions are if no-one's watching you.

Trootie

the sooner we brits avoid going the way of the north americans(i.e. yanks) the better - cars are for driving in concentrate on driving not using it as an entertainment media centre. The law is correct stiffer penalties for mobile phone users whilst driving ban em all i say. Hi mum i am going to be five mins late...... smash bang amputated limbs death all for the sake of phoning mum bull **** treat using mobile phones in cars just like drink driving lock em up - these bug*ers are sobre and risking other peoples lives at least the drunk bug*ers don't know what they are doing half the time lock em all up!

life imprisonment! people should be punished for texting or hand hend while driving, no.1 cause of rear ends.

Hi T

The best thing is not to use one whilst driving. Then you can not be wrong.

champer

The idea is that you have both hands on the wheel, so texting is NOT appropriate. You may use a hands-free providing you don't hold it while in use.

If you're caught, it's a fixed penalty plus points shortly.

tiny_lou1965

ha.. seems to me most people dont know there is a law against it, i mean how many people do you see, in a day holding a phone with their right hand to their left ear.... madness..

and in answer to your q.. i think its a good idea, altho a Â£60 fine.
my 15 yr old got a Â£30fine for cycling on a pavement.. where is the justice eh??

efes_haze

I think it's an excellent law.
I've lost count of the number of times I have been nearly taken out by some prat using his/her mobile.
The real problem is there is never is a copper around to catch the buggers.

PhoenixRights

You cant use your mobile phone whilst driving. You can use a bluetooth hands free, but not wires from the phone to your head. You cant text either. At the moment you just get a fine, but from 27th Feb you will also get 3 points. Hope this helps

Boo

I understand that the law is the following:

You are not allowed to use your phone in the car unless it is on handsfree, and you cannot text as it requires you to hold the phone and clearly you cannot look at the road if you are texting.

You will be fined Â£80 and be given 3 penalty points if you are found using your mobile phone in your hand.

I am fed up with seeing really dangerous driving due to fools holding their mobiles to their ears whilst trying to steer and change gear, so I hope the addition of the 3 penalty points makes them think twice about it.

Barry G

You may use as long as it is not held, but you must keep control of vehicle. Fines are Â£30 fixed penalty up to Â£1k more if bus or hgv.

iopuiu

yes, the fine is 60 pounds and 3 penalty points...but how long are these points on my license?

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