Rang to rights
WAR ON MOTORISTS USING MOBILES Drivers still chat at wheel despite new law Police crackdown in bid to stop road deaths
chatting away on his mobile. The 29-year-old tells the officers he wants to take it to court “because it was on loud-speaker”.
He is told he’s free to do that but the officers know the fine will stand.
Fellow officer Anthony Chisman, 45, said: “I hear all sorts of excuses but using your phone in the wrong way while you are driving is illegal.
“It needs to be as socially unacceptable as drink driving.”
In Oxfordshire, we clocked a driver texting after just 30 seconds of starting our lookout – with 11 offenders caught in two hours yesterday morning.
Another, Natalia Wantulok, was pulled over minutes later. The 28-year-old said: “The points are a lot, but I think the fine could actually be more.
“I think the points will help stop people from doing it though. Six points and a £200 fine, I’m in shock. But there’s no argument, I heard about the new law this morning.” Two people were banned from driving after being caught at our spot in Abingdon.
Other shocking images of motorists using mobiles at the wheel were snapped up and down the country.
think it’s acceptable to use a phone at the wheel PETE WILLIAMS RAC ROAD SAFETY SPOKESMAN
Dorset police said they stopped 31 drivers by midday. One was the driver of a 7.5-ton lorry using his phone in Bournemouth. Another in Norfolk was responding to a message about her puppy being found. One motorist in Totton, Hants, already had 27 points on their licence.
In 2015, 22 people were killed and 99 seriously injured in accidents involving drivers on their phones, latest figures show. The new laws came in after a Mirror campaign to crack down on mobile users. RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said: “It is going to take a huge effort to change behaviours, clearly plenty of drivers still think it’s acceptable to use a handheld phone at the wheel.”
Alice Husband, whose son Seth Dixon, seven, was killed by a driver using a phone in Wisbech, Cambs, just over two years ago, welcomed the rule change. But she said hands-free users should face the same punishment.
She added: “It’s the conversation that’s the distraction, rather than whether the phone is being held.”
Road safety charity Brake campaigns spokesman Gary Rae agreed with the points increase but said the fine should be much higher.
“When you realise you can be fined £1,000 for not having a TV licence then the £200 for illegally using a mobile looks woefully inadequate,” he said.
Police are carrying out a seven-day crackdown on drivers using mobiles.
IF £200 fines and six points on their licence fails to stop idiot drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel, then they deserve instant bans.
Examples need to be made of those who risk killing innocent people – because the higher penalties which came into force yesterday are clearly still not enough to deter some drivers.
Too many families have already lost loved ones after selfish drivers crashed while talking or texting, too lazy and self-important to pull over before making or receiving a call.
Lives will be saved when dangerous drivers fear being caught and punished – social embarrassment must be part of the solution just as it was in combating drink-driving.
Every one of the drivers we photographed yesterday should be deeply ashamed and vow never to do it again.
Next time they may not be so lucky.