Don't do a David…
David Beckham recently received a six month driving ban after he was caught using his mobile phone whilst driving in London. As he already had six points on his licence, the additional points he received for this offence led to his disqualification.
The Rules
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 state that no person shall drive a motor vehicle on a road if he is using a hand-held mobile telephone or other hand-held device. These rules also prevent passengers who are supervising learner drivers from using their phones whilst being carried in the vehicle.
The Penalties
If you are caught using your mobile phone whilst driving as a minimum you will receive six penalty points on your driving licence and a fine of £200, which could lead to a disqualification.
Such penalties can hit new drivers particularly hard. Should a driver receive six penalty points within the first two years of obtaining their driving licence, they will have their driving licence cancelled. They then face having to apply and pay for a new provisional licence and pass both theory and practical parts of the driving or riding test again to get a full licence.
Penalties can be even heavier for drivers of HGVs, buses and coaches caught using their phone whilst driving, with fines of up to £2,500 and six penalty points.
What the prosecution must prove…
The prosecution must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you had a mobile phone or device in your hand and were using it.
'Use' in this context means not only calls and texts, but also apps.
"When can I use my phone in the car?"
When you are safely stationary, parked and the vehicle is switched off.
If you need to call 999 in an emergency and it is impossible or unsafe to stop your vehicle.
For more information..
Please contact Liz Bradshaw on 01206 369889 or via e-mail: 01206 369889
