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Driven to distraction
David Williams, Motoring Editor16 Jul 2008
Drivers appear to be shrugging off the threat of jail for causing fatal accidents while texting or talking on a mobile phone.
Two Evening Standard photographers caught dozens of motorists using their phones while driving - despite a new crackdown which could mean up to 14 years in prison for offenders who kill.
Among those pictured were cabbies, van drivers and commuters.
However, motoring organisations insisted today that the new sentencing guidelines, which came into effect yesterday, would make roads safer.
Paul Watters, the AA's head of roads and transport policy, said: "Sadly, some people do not think ahead when they reach for the mobile phone while driving- - it seems a habit many cannot break. They often do not think that answering a phone or texting could have catastrophic effects, let alone what the sentence would be.
"But when more people begin to be jailed for using phones in the lead-up to accidents, they will get the message."
Adrian Tink of the RAC said: "When not driven responsibly, cars can be lethal weapons.
"We would hope that tougher sentencing for the most serious driving offences will act as a deterrent to those who do not take the responsibility of driving a vehicle seriously enough." He added: "There is a clear appetite among motorists to clamp down on the illegal use of mobile phones while driving - 79 per cent say that seeing it makes them angry or stressed."
But road safety charity Brake said the new guidelines did not go far enough.
Founder Mary Williams said: "We welcome the fact that more drivers who commit offences and kill will, hopefully, now be imprisoned. But the law is still woefully lenient in tackling drivers who kill and maim through their own actions with catastrophic consequences for families."
The ban on the use of hand-held mobiles while driving was introduced in December 2003.
From February last year, the fixedpenalty fine doubled from £30 to £60 and offenders became liable for three penalty points on their licences.
Cyclists are not covered by the new guidelines but can be prosecuted for offences such as riding while unfit through drink or drugs or "wanton or furious" cycling, which carry a maximum two-year jail sentence.
It is also possible a cyclist caught using a mobile while riding could be judged to be guilty of the "wilful" misconduct or neglect targeted by the legislation.
Reader views (4)
I am sickened by this behaviour - who does the woman in the picture think she is?
- Howard Rudnick, London, 18/07/2008 10:31
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It is very tempting to do but that phone and your bill is all the evidence required to prove you were on it if you have accident. People don't realise its like drink driving - if you have crash and you were on the phone you'll get the blame even if it wasn't your fault. The RAC are right, once a few normal people (i.e. not career criminals) have been banged up for a few years it will sink in. Why not confiscate the phones for those caught and crush them - you could have a little phone crusher in the back of the police car. For many people the trauma of losing their phone would probably have more impact than the threat of going to prison for 5 years.
- Tony, London, 17/07/2008 09:59
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Who is the woman in the photograph?
Surely someone knows her and it is their duty to report her to the police.
How about the Evening Standing offering a reward for her identification?
- Katy, London, 17/07/2008 08:14
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What is the point of these law's anyway, nobody adhears to them, bike's on pavement's police look the other way when did you last see an officer walking the street.
This country is laughable, paper's like The Standard print picture's offending on their mobile's, why don't the police do the same, no that would be too easy, and they would have to make out a report, that would mean work, a four letter word these day's.
- Mike Masterton, London, 16/07/2008 21:40
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