Mobile law

Drivers ignoring mobile law

Drivers are ignoring mobile phone ban despite risk to license.

Auto Express Car Reviews

03rd March 2008

More motorists than ever are using their mobile phones illegally while driving, an Auto Express investigation has revealed. Since February 2007, anyone caught breaking the law has faced a £60 fine and three penalty points on their licence. Back then, we hit the streets during morning rush hour and spotted four per cent of drivers flouting the rules. Now, a year on, we repeated the study in the same place at the same time, but on this occasion found that five per cent of the 1,000 cars we checked were being driven by someone using their handset at the wheel.

“There is a perception that you won’t get caught, even though there have been more than 100,000 convictions by traffic officers,” said a spokesman for the AA. “It shows that there’s less fear of getting in trouble with the police. People make a cost analysis, and figure if they get stopped and fined every so often, it’s not such a big deal.”

Don’t miss next week’s Auto Express for your chance to win a Halfords hands-free kit to help keep you on the right side of the law.