Reader views (21)

 Add your view

At this rate, the biggest offence one can commit will be to drive a car.

- Trevor, London, UK

This is a disturbing trend in the ever-expanding nanny state mentality that is sweeping the UK, the US, and other locales. You're not wearing a seatbelt, so you lose your car? That is preposterous.

- Lou P., Birmingham, Alabama, USA

It's high time the police got tough on those who use their mobile phone while driving. As a regular and law-abiding cyclist in London (who wouldn't dream of using a phone while riding), I am shocked by the numbers of people who continue to flount the law by using their phone while driving - and not just talking, but texting too and not even watching the road ahead. Mobile phone use in cars needs to become as socially unacceptable as drink driving (and perhaps similarly punished), as current measures clearly aren't working. Perhaps a hard-hitting TV campaign showing the many accidents caused by distracted drivers would be another idea.

- Lucy, London, UK

My wife's car was rear-ended by a clot babbling on a cell phone. I was nearly run off the road by another fool babbling away on his cell phone.
Good for the Brits. As for seat belts: years ago my boss was struck head-on by a woman who wasn't wearing hers. She ran off the road, slipped into a ditch on her side of the road, slid away from the steering wheel, her car went to the wrong side of the road and hit my boss's car head-on. Had she been wearing a seatbelt, no accident would have occurred. She could have controlled the car.

- Rick, W.Hartford, USA

After they confiscate your car, who makes the payments on it? If I cant ride public transportation to work who takes me to and from work. If I cant buy food for my children who will feed them? Its just another stupid idea by a bunch of whacked out liberals who got elected by people not paying attention to what they're doing on election day.

- John Micklos, CA

If this worked, it would be great. However, it's pointless giving the police more powers, when they don't enforce the ones they have already! How many people do you see holding a phone whilst driving, and how many have you ever seen stopped? And it's been illegal for a long time now.

- Philip, London, England

The UK is slowly becoming more and more, a police state. Very scary.

- Mike Angy, USA

Rob, this is the new British justice, you can mug someone assault them or rob them and get a non custodial sentance, but God help you if you commit a motoring offence they will throw the book at you. I suppose it all boils down to who has got the money to pay the fine, the motorist generally has while the mugger hasn't.

- Brian, Swindon

I was hoping to come visit the UK as my family roots are in Scotland, England, and Ireland. However, when I read stories like this, I think the whole country has gone stark raving mad. If this is how your own citizens are treated, with the government interefering with all aspects of private life, what kind of treatment can visitors expect? I am starting to believe that I may never be able to come visit the lands of my ancestors due to the sheer lunacy I continue to read about.

- Liz, Mansfield, Texas, USA

If they seized everyone's vehicles and made everyone stay at home, crime would be reduced 100%.


- Mark, Irvine, USA

You can have your car seized for talking on the phone or not wearing your seat belt? That seems to be a bit of overkill to me... What happened to paying a fine and going on your way?

- Rob, Madison, WI, USA

Use your phone, get caught, £1,000 fine and a year's ban, that'll make people think!

- Marc, London, UK

Even if this does reduce crime it seems a loss of liberty to give police such powers. If you lost your car for a minor offence, how would you feel?

- Hobbs, Hobbs

A worthwhile measure, and long overdue. Full marks to the police on this one!

Perhaps these simpletons who continuously flout the law will hear the penny drop now that their mobile, buttons and bells fashion accessories have been been prised from their ears whilst they drive.

- Ted, Shetland Isles

For seatbelts it's ridiculous. The only person at extra risk is the driver himself. Sooner or later it will literally be his funeral, I can't think of any reason why the rest of us should worry about it.

For phones, it's completely sensible if someone is using a phone while the vehicle is moving, because he's not in proper control of his vehicle. However, I anticipate the usual lack of commonsense. Someone will soon have his car confiscated for using his phone from a stationary car in a traffic jam.

- Nigel, London

Good idea - just like in New York when they clamped down on fare evaders on the Subway - crime fell for 2 reasons. It was no fun for the tea leaves to have to buy a ticket and amongst the fare evaders were a high proportion of wanted criminals.

- Alfie, London, UK

I can see it now, Tony, Gord and John's Car Lot. To Tax and No MOT - luvvley runner, dubious history, doubtful future - sold as seen.

- Karl, London

If a person gets caught whilst driving and using a phone the phone should be confiscated and an immediate £500 fine imposed.
Then you'll see the accident figues come down!

- James, London

Unbelieveable! So you can lose your vehicle for not wearing a seatbelt? Bonkers - Police State here we come.

- James, London

Good! I'm sick and tired of the number of near misses I've had on my bike with drivers who are on the phone. Their reaction? A friendly wave and a mouthed 'sorry'. (No, 'sorry' does not make up for nearly losing a limb and potentially a career).

Cars are potentially very dangerous to those not actually sitting in them.

Fine them, give them 6 points and take their cars away. They won't do it again.

- Stephen, Guildford

It's about time that they did something like this.

- John Evans, London, UK

Add your comment