Switch off the mobile when driving urges Stockport Council to residents and visitors to Stockport.
Since 2003 it’s been an offence to use a “hand held” mobile phone whilst driving. From 2007, in addition to a monetary fine, a driver caught using a hand held mobile phone now risks penalty points on their licence.
Using smartphones for social networking while driving is more dangerous than drink driving or being high on cannabis behind the wheel, according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Despite this, 8% of drivers in the UK admit to using smartphones for email and social networking while driving equivalent to 3.5 million licence holders.
Twenty-four per cent of 17-24 year old drivers, a group already at higher risk of being in a crash, admit to using smartphones for email and social networking while driving.
The IAM research also showed that 9% of drivers admitted taking a “selfie” whilst driving in the last month, this figure rose to 19% for drivers aged between 25 and 35 years.
To tackle the seriousness of this offence, the Government has produced a consultation paper suggesting various penalties for drivers caught using their “hand held” phones while driving.
Issued to drivers’ groups and professional bodies, the consultation considers proposals for increasing the fixed penalty notice (FPN) level from £100 to £150 for all drivers as well as increasing the penalty points from 3 to 4 for non-HGV drivers and from 3 to 6 points for those that hold a Large Goods Vehicle (HGV) licence who commit the offence whilst driving a HGV.
Councillor Sheila Bailey, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Communities and Housing, said: “Using mobile phones when driving is, obviously, extremely dangerous and drivers who do this put themselves at risk as well as other drivers and road users. It has to be better to take the call or send the message later, than not be able to do so at all!”
For more information about local driver, cyclist and pedestrian safety, please visit www.stockport.gov.uk/roadsafety