10:12 am, March 1, 2017
PENALTIES and fines for drivers who use their mobile phones behind the wheel are being doubled to six points and £200 from today.
The measures are being introduced following a series of high-profile cases and research suggesting the practice is widespread.
New drivers can have their licences revoked if they get six penalty points in their first two years on the road – so sending a single text message could mean they’re banned from the wheel.
More experienced motorists can lose their licence if they receive 12 points in a three-year period.
Twenty-two people were killed and 99 seriously injured in accidents on Britain’s roads in 2015 where a motorist using a mobile was a contributory factor, latest figures show.
Inexcusable
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said increasing fixed penalties will be a ‘strong deterrent’.
He added: ‘Everyone has a part to play in encouraging their family and friends not to use their phones while driving. It is as inexcusable as drink driving.’
The Department for Transport said members of the public can report repeat offenders anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Police forces are carrying out a seven-day crackdown with extra patrols and an ‘increased focus’ on catching drivers using handheld phones.
Around 3,600 motorists were handed penalties during a similar initiative last month.
AA president Edmund King said too many motorists are ‘addicted’ to their phones while RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said encouraging motorists to take personal responsibility for their actions must be at the heart of the campaign to change driving habits.
Lorry driver Tomasz Kroker was jailed for 10 years in October after killing a woman and three children by ploughing into their stationary car on the A34 near Newbury, Berkshire, while distracted by his phone.
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