Using a mobile phone penalty increase anniversary survey

The £1.5 million pound THINK! campaign marking the first anniversary of the increased penalties was carried out the raise awareness of the dangers of driving whilst using a mobile phone.

Research has found that drivers using a phone are four times more likely to be involved in a road accident, which in turn could lead to unnecessary injuries or worse, prosecution and increased insurance premiums after a road accident claim. 

The fines for using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving was doubled on 27th February 2007 from £30 to £60 and with 3 penalty points also issued.

The same penalty applies to drivers not having proper control of a vehicle; this can apply to drivers distracted by hands free mobile phones. The YouGov poll of what people think of mobile phone usage whist driving showed that: - 2% aren't concerned. 60% get annoyed. 84% of people over 55 think it's totally unacceptable. 49% of people aged 18-24 also think its unacceptable.

77% of women think it is a needless risk with 69% of men agreeing. 63% of Northerners feel annoyed when they see it happening. 67% of Londoners don't think it's needlessly risking the safety of them and others. 80% of Scots think it is dangerous at any time.

Police are taking the matter seriously despite a TRL survey on behalf of the DfT observing instances dropping, with offences in 2007 for using hand held phones up over 15,000 on the previous year to 185,639. The message is simple, don't use your mobile while driving, turn it off or ignore it, voice mail will take any important messages, these can wait until the journey has finished or stopped for a break.