New penalty point increase for mobile phone use behind the wheel

Published Date: 20th Sep 2016

The current system stands at three penalty points and a £100 fine for using your mobile device behind the wheel for texting calling and checking your social media without a hands-free kit.

The Department for Transport has been planning for a while to reduce the number of accidents caused by mobile phone use, following reports that the numbers are on the rise. They’ve recently suggested that a £150 fine and four points would do the trick.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: “we need to take responsibility for our actions and as drink or drug driving has become socially unacceptable, so must using mobile phones at the wheel.

“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.”

However the decision has changed to double the fine and points to £200 and six points after a quite shocking RAC report recently.

According to the RAC’s Report on Motoring 2016 released last week, the number of drivers owning up to mobile phone use in the driving seat has increased from 8% in 2014 to 31% this year.

Astonishingly, a total of 14% of drivers admitted using their handheld mobile device for taking photos and shooting videos instead of focusing their attention on the road.

RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said: “It is alarming to see that some drivers have clearly relaxed their attitudes to the risks associated with this behaviour but more worryingly is the increase in the percentage of motorists who actually admit to using a handheld device when driving.”