Tougher penalties on drivers caught using their phones are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks, the DfT has said after it moved to substantiate claims in the media that fines would double .
The Guardian reported last month that on the spot fines for all offenders will double to £200 after speaking with transport secretary, Chris Grayling. Points for HGV drivers found using phones would also double from 3 to 6 points, it is claimed.
But the Department for Transport (DfT) did not confirm or deny the proposals, as the official response to the consultation on fines for drivers using phones is still awaited.
Ian Gallagher, head of policy at the Freight Transport Association (FTA), said that while the figures quoted so far go in excess of what was in the original consultation - £100 rising to £150 fine for all drivers and no mention of reports of a £1,000 fine for twice offending drivers – he said in any case fines would need to be accompanied by policing to have impact.
“At the end of the day we think enforcement should be enforcement, if it takes 6 points to reverse the trend of drivers using mobiles then so be it. It’s an activity we want to see ruled out.
“But, enforcement needs to be better – you can have a £2,000 fine but if you’ve not got the enforcement behind it you’re not going to reduce the numbers of people using phones while driving.”
The FTA are supportive of any move to increase fines as it could draw much needed attention to the dangers of using phones at the wheel. It could also highlight the penalties already in place for drivers who use their phones, he added.
Traffic commissioners across the UK have the powers to call in any drivers for a driver conduct hearing should they be caught using a phone, he said. A TC can revoke or suspend their vocational entitlement, but this is not widely known and often ignored, he said.
“Raising awareness is massively important and the penalties of just having that quick peek, just to see what that text was about, having that quick call – if they realized they could lose their job from it…”
“It may seem harmless when you are replying to a text, answering a call or using an app, but the truth is your actions could kill and cause untold misery to others.”
The DfT consultation ran from 26 January to 15 March this year. It is also considering views on technology that would limit use of a phone in a moving vehicle, such as Bluetooth and GPS trackers.
A recent RAC study found almost one-third (31%) of drivers admitted to using a handheld phone behind the wheel compared with just 8% in 2014.
DfT figures show that a driver impaired or distracted by their phone was a factor in 492 accidents in Britain in 2014, including 21 that were fatal and 84 classed as serious.
