Statistics show that one in four car accidents are caused by making calls whilst driving. On top of this, the Prime Minister has vowed to crack down on making calls whilst driving, attempting to heighten it to the level of crime as drink driving. The fact that the government are now taking this seriously, debates and research being focused on driving whilst on the phone are becoming ever more prevalent in mainstream media. As the laws become stricter, it’s sensible to stay in the know on just what the law says.

Why the sudden change?

Research into road accidents in the year of 2015 revealed that 22 people were killed and 99 were critically injured in collisions which had mobile phones playing an important factor. Like with drink driving, your focus is not on the road when using your mobile phone and in 2014 mobile phone use was a contributing factor in at least 25 percent of accidents. The reason or this being a grey area is that it’s not always as black and white as drink driving. Alcohol is a depressant and therefore goes without saying that reactions are slowed. Phones however, have no debilitating effects in and of themselves, it is just the way they are used. This has meant that their effects on drivers and pedestrians have only come into light in recent years, especially since the mid noughties when their use became far more widespread. Research compared to that into drink driving, is far younger.

The penalties for driving on the phone

Back in 2003, the penalty for being caught using a mobile phone whilst driving was at a mere £30. Nowadays the fine has skyrocketed to £200 as well as adding 6 penalty points to your driving license. This means that if you’re a new driver who has gained their license in the last 2 years, then your licence will be revoked. Whilst people who have held their license for more than 2 years must reach 12 points before their license is revoked, you should be extra careful when new to it. Driving for under 2 years means that anything above 6 points will have your driving license taken away. This deterrent extends to more hefty fines in extreme circumstances, leading to fines in court of up to 2 grand and a two year disqualification from driving. These fines could be dished out to mobile using drivers at high speeds, potentially dangerous situations and persistent offenders. Being charged with causing death by dangerous or careless driving can have you facing between 14 years and life imprisonment.

Using your mobile phone whilst stationary is also punishable by law. In 2016 an RAC Report on Motoring showed that 47% percent of drivers thought it was acceptable to use their phone if stopped in traffic. If you’re on the road and your engine is running, your phone should not be near you. Using your phone for navigation purposes is also subject to fines. Just because you’re not speaking on your phone doesn’t mean that you’re not distracted.

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Hands free calling

The best way to deter fines, dangerous driving and potential prison time is by investing in hands free phone calling. Within many modern Car Stereo Installations, you can find blue tooth adaptable equipment, meaning that you can talk hands free whilst driving. With new innovations such as Siri and Android, you can even give your phone voice commands. This makes it easier to enjoy music, satellite navigation and the radio all while keeping your eyes and focus on the road.