Crackdown on drivers phone use
THIS IS as much a reflection of Britain’s success with anti-drink drive campaigns as the growing use of cellphones while driving but it doesn’t make the latter any less of a problem.
The numbers of motorists using cellphones to make calls, send texts, update social media pages, and even take a selfie while driving has risen to epidemic levels, and distracted driving is expected to be the biggest single cause of death and injuries on the roads next year as a result.
Last week British Transport Minister Patrick McLoughlin floated the idea to double the penalty for cellphone use to six points (the maximum in the UK is 12) on a motorist’s licence. But safety campaigners say it isn’t enough and are pressing for a oneyear driving ban instead.
Simon Marsh, managing director of incident video camera company SmartWitness, said: ‘‘The problem is far more widespread than Department of Transport believe and driver distraction due to mobiles will soon be the biggest single cause of death on the roads.
‘‘We believe a large number of serious and fatal accidents are wrongly classed as ‘in-vehicle distraction’ when the specific cause of the accident was down to mobile phone use.’’
‘‘The only real deterrent is a one-year ban from driving for anyone caught texting at the wheel, it’s clear that the current legislation isn’t working and an increase to six points for mobile offenders will not be enough to stop the death toll.
‘‘Lives are being ruined just for the reason that someone wants to send a text message whilst driving. The only message that should be sent is from government to motorists that this is not acceptable.’’