Over 2,000 drivers flout tougher law on phones
TEN motorists on average a day have been caught using their mobiles at the wheel since tough new laws were introduced in Scotland this year.
Despite the threat of fines of up to £200, 2,220 drivers were caught between March 1 and September 30.
According to figures released by Police Scotland, the Greater Glasgow area had 335 offences, the largest number in the country. The North-East was only just behind at 329, with Edinburgh in third place with 263. Argyll and Bute had the lowest rate of offenders, with only 63 caught in the period.
Under legislation introduced this year drivers can be penalised with six points on their licence and a £200 fine. In more serious cases, drivers can be prosecuted for careless or dangerous driving.
An estimated total of £444,000 could have been collected in penalties from the 2,220 drivers.
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: ‘These figures show that a hard core of drivers continue to believe they can drive a vehicle while using a handheld mobile phone, when the evidence and enough tragic crashes in recent months clearly show otherwise.
‘Data released in September shone a light on just how much of a problem illegal
‘Tragic crashes in recent months’
phone use at the wheel has become, with the number of deaths in 2016 at a five-year high with 35 – a 60 per cent increase on 2015 when there were 22.
‘It is going to take a concerted effort by government, the police and road safety bodies to bring about a step change and make driving while using a handheld phone socially unacceptable.’
Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, head of road policing for Police Scotland, said: ‘Driving requires your full attention. It is absolutely essential that people concentrate on their driving rather than talking on their mobile phone.
‘At the end of the day, is the phone call that important that it is worth risking your life for?’
Latest statistics show that phone use is a factor in an average of two deaths on the roads every month in the UK, with 124 people losing their lives over the past five years and 521 suffering serious injuries.