December 1, 2004
Police get tough on mobile phone users
New road safety measures have been unveiled in the UK.
Penalties are tougher for drivers who do not respect speed limits but also for those caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel, from £30 to up to £60. Offenders would also get three penalty points on their licences.
Recent figures from the RAC suggest use of mobile phones while driving has increased since a ban on driving with mobiles was introduced, reports the BBC which, in an other article, informs that over 7,000 motorists in Scotland have been fined for driving while using a mobile phone in the year since the a new law was introduced.
To raise awareness of the ban and promote the use of hands-free kits, the Scottish police are stopping drivers today.
But some say that more needs to be done to persuade motorists to switch off their phones. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents wants the government to extend the ban to cover also hands-free phones.
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