Confiscate phones? It’s draconian

I would like to see an end to drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel, but I’m getting fed up with people saying that those caught should have their device confiscated by the police. I’ve read this view in lots of places, most recently by Terry Sutton in Letters, Issue 505.

It’s the kind of draconian suggestion that gets applauded by people who don’t understand that a phone isn’t an inherently dangerous object, like a knife or gun. Using the phone may cause a fatal accident, but it’s still the car that ultimately does the damage. Also, I can’t see any reasonable way that the law could be changed to make it legal or sensible for the police to take phones from drivers. It’s the kind of right that could easily be abused. David Sanderson