From Today, Hand-Holding Your Phone While Driving Could Get You Banned Instantly
Starting today, British drivers who passed their test less than two years ago will have their licence torn up if they get caught hand-holding a mobile phone while driving.
New rules mean that anyone still within their two-year probationary period who gets caught texting, tweeting, taking a driving selfie or checking CT for the latest will be banned, even if it’s a first or only offence. Police forces all over the UK will be out in unmarked HGV units over the next week to look down into cars and catch people in the act.
The penalty has doubled from £100 and three points to £200 and six, and racking up six points within the first two years after passing the UK driving test means it’s the end of the road – at least until the ban runs out, at which point offenders have to retake both their theory and practical tests.
Purely anecdotal evidence suggests huge numbers of people are using their phones, even if it’s in slow-moving traffic, which is still illegal. An RAC study last year found that a third of people were willing to admit they used their phone illegally while driving, and the true figure could be much higher.
With the higher punishments in mind, take care, CTzens. As much as we love everything you bring to our little corner of the web, we don’t want any torched licences.
Comments
That’s good news! Cant stand people who are on their phone while driving
Same here, last year a guy was on his phone 2 cars behind me in traffic and as soon as the traffic slowed he hit the car infront. Could have been alot worse if we were moving at speed
This is why we bought samsung’s smartwatches
Have a Gear S2. Good phone alternative.
its about time this happened. Even though i do notice especially where i live its mainly older drivers and taxi drivers who use their phones while driving. I mean anyone my age or younger its always been illegal to use a phone while driving so i believe the younger drivers see at as more socially unacceptable.
Exact opposite here, older people are more aware than young, inexperienced drivers who think “I won’t crash, I’m good at this”, have a guess as to why it’s the country with the highest death rate from crashes.
Good
People with smartwatches be like
Fitbit for the win
You made me laugh out loud
The only time I’d want to use my phone whilist driving is to take a photo when there is something stupid happening on the road
But need to stop doing that
You could install a dashcam
Well time to move to Britain. Safer roads there.
My thoughts exactly.
Come to Australia, that law was enforced for years for everyone
Good.
Its been like that in Australia for a while.
And with good reason, though you still see the odd person texting while driving
there’s a loophole here: exactly what are you banned from doing? talking on the phone, or holding something in your hand? cuz you talk to your passengers, and you can hold an ice-cream in your hand while driving. You could even do both at the same time while driving.
Holding an ice cream or looking at your smart watch could be “Driving without due care and attention” or “careless driving”
The phone law applies to using a phone or similar handheld device - you’re banned from even touching the device when in control of a vehicle. You need to be stopped and keys out of the ignition to use a phone.
Where I’m from, the law says ‘electronic handheld device’. That can mean cell phone, unmounted GPS, curling iron, electric razor, anything like those. As far as I know, eating isn’t illegal, but it is highly discouraged.
I think technically speaking you can be done for eating and drinking while driving. In the UK at least. I’ve never been done though and a cop car clocked me with a pepperami in hand the other day. Guess it depends on the way you’re driving! Officer discretion and all that…
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