The law of using mobile phones whilst driving.

Tough new penalties for using hand held mobile phones came in to effect from midnight on February 27th 2007.

Although it was already illegal to use a hand held mobile phone whilst driving, the previous penalty was a mere £30 fine and wasn’t endorsable.

Three penalty points

The offences of using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving and failing to have proper control of a vehicle have now become endorsable. Drivers now automatically have their licence endorsed with three penalty points and receive a £60 fine – double the previous charge.

Any cases that reach court could involve discretionary disqualification and a maximum fine of £1,000 - or £2,500 in the case of the driver of a bus, coach or goods vehicle.

Can I use my ear piece and wire with my mobile?

A Hands Free Kit consisting of a wire and an earpiece would only be legal if you did not have to hold the phone to dial a number or take a call. If your phone has voice recognition or bluetooth capabilities you should use these and pre-programme numbers into your phone. But trailing wires from some kits mean that they still aren’t the safest option.

How can I make safer calls?

Ensure you have a properly fitted Hands Free Kit (preferably voice activated)
Keep calls short and simple – never argue or negotiate on the move
Turn off your phone and take messages when you can park safely
Tell callers that you are driving and may need to break off your conversation suddenly
Save any numbers you may need into your phone to a short dial number before starting your journey.

Text messages

• A survey of 1,000 motorists by Tesco suggested more than nine out of 10 drivers were unaware of the changes.
• A separate study by Sainsbury's said that almost nine million people used a hand-held mobile phone while driving during the last year.
• Of those 709,000 said that using their phone has nearly caused them to have an accident.
• A spokesman for the bank said: "Our research reveals that 10% of motorists key in text messages while driving, 15% read messages and 16% answer calls."

To obtain a FREE quote for the installation of a hands free kit please contact us.