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The law and road safety act 2006
The Road Safety Act 2006
(Commencement No. 1) Order 2007
This Order brought into force, on 27th February 2007, the new provisions of the Road Safety Act 2006.
Section 26 relates to increases in penalties for the breach of requirements as to driver's control of a motor vehicle and the use of a hand-held mobile telephone or similar device whilst driving a motor vehicle.
www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/uksi_20070237_en_1
New penalties for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving are now in force
You must:
Be in proper control of your vehicle when using a hands free device
You must not:
Drive holding a mobile phone
Supervise a driver while holding a mobile phone
Cause or permit a driver to drive while holding a mobile phone
You must:
Be in proper control of your vehicle when using a hands free device
Penalties: If you breach the law the new penalties are:
• 3 penalty points on your licence |
• A fixed penalty fine of £60 |
• Cases dealt with by a court can lead to a fine of up to £1,000 or £2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles, buses or coaches |
In addition: Employers must not:
Require employees to make or receive mobile calls while driving
Which devices?
Hand held mobile phone, pda or other device for sending or receiving data.
Exceptions:
A driver can call 999 or 112 in an emergency
Two-way radios are not covered by this offence
One UK bus company has already banned its entire 135,000 employee workforce from using mobile phones, including hands free mobile sets, when driving on company business with effect from 1 January 2008. The decision was based on research from TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) which adds to a growing body of evidence that driving performance is significantly impaired when holding a telephone conversation. Research suggests that driver performance while making a hands-free telephone conversation is at a lower level than when driving at the UK legal limit of alcohol intoxication. The Groups bus and train drivers but are allowed to use other communications equipment (such as radios) to give and receive operational information from control centres, rail signallers etc.
www.transportresearchlaboratory.com/press/press_detail.asp?pid=95&aid=136