Driving ban for being caught on your phone - do you agree?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/01/six-points-licence-200-fine-drivers-mobile-phone

There are tougher penalties being introduced for drivers caught on their mobile phones. New drivers who have had their licence for under 2 years will face a driving ban, having to retake their test. Drivers who have had a license for over 2 years will now face 6 points,which has doubled from the previous 3 points, and a £200. This includes using your phone when you're stood still in traffic!

So do you agree with these tougher penalties, and do you think it will make people more likely to stick to the law of no mobile phones when driving?

Reply 1

Tootles

21

I agree with the penalties, because people take it too lightly. But I don't think they'll learn, because people never do.

yes

Volunteer Section Leader

21

I think the frequency of enforcement is more important than the punishment in terms of what will make it stick. A harsher punishment will make people think twice for a while, but if they use their phone all the time without being caught, it's not going to have any long term impact.

Reply 4

username2400835

16

yes I agree, I believe that this will make people use their phones less frequently and think twice before they do. And although a lot of people don't see the reasoning behind punishment while the car is stood still, at the end of the day you're still in control of the vehicle and you don't have to be moving for the to be an incident. Even if it's something as simple as not moving for a few seconds after the lights change, it's still your responsibility to pay attention until you're parked with the engine off.

Reply 5

Reality Check

22

I don't think this is necessarily the way forward. The reason why drink driving is such a total no-no is because it became more and more unacceptable to society as a whole - general opinion shifted through campaigning and education about the consequences of drink driving, and this made it unacceptable behaviour to the majority of people. The same thing needs to happen with using your phone whilst driving - you change behaviours by changing how they're perceived by the majority of society, not by banning and punishing. That's the easy option.

Reply 6

gr8wizard10

21

government is extra, but tbh i get their logic.. even a split second away from concentration can result in tragedy.. found out the hard way :frown:

Reply 7

UWS

21

Yes, because a lot of people are being morons and using Snapchat to take videos or pictures of them driving or checking their Twitter feed. It's really selfish with no consideration of safety on the roads. Also, if you have to make a phone call, stop on the side of the road or something.

Reply 8

Luke7456

20

Yes provided people don't get stupid with it. When driving one should never be looking at their Phone.

However if stuck in a traffic jam it would be way to draconian to punish people for looking at their phones.

Reply 9

Doriaan

I think its over the top now because the problem is getting out of hand. As soon as the problem reduces, the penalties will relax

Reply 10

metalheadgooner

6

It has become an increasing problem over recent years and the many ad campaigns have had no impact. This seems like a 'we tried to reason with you so now we will take action' situation. If this is enforced properly, it will certainly save lives. However, did see one person comment on facebook that this is not about saving lives, but taking more money from us lol

Reply 11

Drez999

3

Original post by BurstingBubbles

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/01/six-points-licence-200-fine-drivers-mobile-phone

There are tougher penalties being introduced for drivers caught on their mobile phones. New drivers who have had their licence for under 2 years will face a driving ban, having to retake their test. Drivers who have had a license for over 2 years will now face 6 points,which has doubled from the previous 3 points, and a £200. This includes using your phone when you're stood still in traffic!

So do you agree with these tougher penalties, and do you think it will make people more likely to stick to the law of no mobile phones when driving?

100% agree with the new doubling up and pleased it includes other hand-held devices too.

Reply 12

Rooster11366

10

I think it should be even harder then that for new drivers. In the first 2 years ago ban for 6 months on top of points and fine. Then a harder resit if both tests.

Reply 13

Drez999

3

Original post by Reality Check

I don't think this is necessarily the way forward. The reason why drink driving is such a total no-no is because it became more and more unacceptable to society as a whole - general opinion shifted through campaigning and education about the consequences of drink driving, and this made it unacceptable behaviour to the majority of people. The same thing needs to happen with using your phone whilst driving - you change behaviours by changing how they're perceived by the majority of society, not by banning and punishing. That's the easy option.

Have to disagree amigo...

If it only saves one life it is not the 'easy option' but the best option.

Reply 14

the bear

20

hands free phones are still legal... get one of those if you need to combine wittering with driving.

Reply 15

Reality Check

22

Original post by Drez999

Have to disagree amigo...

If it only saves one life it is not the 'easy option' but the best option.

I love how polite you always are :smile:

I agree with you. I didn't mean to suggest that it was the easy option and thus shouldn't be undertaken. What I was trying to say was that banning things and punishing people is the easy bit, but the hard thing is to change the general way this issue is seen by the general public, and that is where the battle will be won longterm.

Reply 16

Reality Check

22

Original post by the bear

hands free phones are still legal... get one of those if you need to combine wittering with driving.

There was an interesting piece of research a few months ago which found that it was not the physical aspects of holding a phone which was the problem. Rather, it was the cognitive effort required to maintain a conversation and the subsequent inattention to your driving which was the problem. The study found handsfree sets as 'bad' for your driving as picking up and holding your phone. I'll try to find the story online.

This is where it gets really tricky, if this research is accurate. Does it necessarily lead to banning drivers from using any form of telephone whilst driving? I must see what the research said (if anything) about how talking to a passenger affects your driving.

EDIT: found the links;

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/35831
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36475180
http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initiatives/Pages/distracted-driving-hands-free-is-not-risk-free-infographic.aspx

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 17

Rooster11366

10

You forget one thing must people do not have blue tooth. So need to take hand of driving wheel. Or they are playing games or playing music.

It is not just talking on the phone that is the problem.

Reply 18

the bear

20

Original post by Reality Check

There was an interesting piece of research a few months ago which found that it was not the physical aspects of holding a phone which was the problem. Rather, it was the cognitive effort required to maintain a conversation and the subsequent inattention to your driving which was the problem. The study found handsfree sets as 'bad' for your driving as picking up and holding your phone. I'll try to find the story online.

This is where it gets really tricky, if this research is accurate. Does it necessarily lead to banning drivers from using any form of telephone whilst driving, I must see what the research said (if anything) about how talking to a passenger affects your driving.

EDIT: found the links;

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/35831
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36475180
http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initiatives/Pages/distracted-driving-hands-free-is-not-risk-free-infographic.aspx