New penalties for illegal mobile phone use from 27 February 2007

Motorists face tough new penalties for breaking the law by using a hand-held mobile phone while driving from February 27 2007, Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander announced on the 22nd January.

From that date, the fixed penalty will for the first time include the award of three penalty points as well as doubling the fine to £60.

Drivers who think they can "beat the ban" on hand held-mobile phones when new laws becomes effective later this month by simply buying hands-free kit for their cars are still putting themselves and their passengers at risk. That's the warning today (Wednesday 7 February) from the IAM, the UK's largest independent organisation dedicated to road safety and driving standards. See here for more of the comment from the IAM

Mr Alexander said:

"Research shows that talking on a mobile phone while driving affects your concentration and ability to react to dangerous situations. It's quite simple - it's impossible to do two things at once and do them well. That is why in December 2003 we introduced new laws preventing motorists from driving while using a hand-held mobile.

"We have seen a groundswell of support for this move. But, worryingly, while 92% of people agree with the law, 21% of drivers admit to breaking it. That is why, from 27 February, the Road Safety Act will introduce a tougher fixed penalty of three points on your licence as well as a £60 fine."

A campaign to raise awareness of the new fixed penalty begins today and will include radio, press and online activity raising awareness of both the change in penalties and the dangers of using a mobile phone whilst driving. This educational approach goes hand in hand with continued enforcement activity by the police. Home Office figures for 2004 show that nearly 74,000 fixed penalty notices were issued for illegal use of a mobile phone while driving.

DfT continues to work closely with private partners, including the mobile phone industry, to ensure mobile phone users are made aware of the changes and how it affects them.

NOTES

1. Section 26 of the Road Safety Act 2006 increases the fixed penalty for drivers using a hand held phone or similar device. This section is being commenced on 27 February, and the penalty will then rise from £30 to £60 and three penalty points. The same changes are being made to the penalties for not having proper control of a vehicle - a measure which can also be used where a driver has been distracted by using a hands-free mobile phones.

2. If the police or the driver chooses to take a case to court rather than use a fixed penalty notice, the maximum fine is £1,000 (£2,500 for drivers of vans, lorries, buses and coaches).

3. There have been a number of research reports identifying the danger of using any mobile phone while driving - for example, TRL Ltd's report for Direct Line Insurance which demonstrated it is even more dangerous than drink driving.

4. As well as this the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones covered the risks in their report on Mobile Phones and Health in 2000 - see paragraphs 5.201 to 5.214, pages 86 to 90 for a summary of research worldwide - available online at : http://www.iegmp.org.uk/report/text.htm