Drivers face jail over mobile phones

Fri, 21 Dec 2007

As well as risking higher car insurance premiums motorists caught driving dangerously while using their mobile phones could face a jail term of up to two years under new guidelines published today.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says that where there is clear evidence that danger has been caused by the use of a mobile phone behind the wheel a motorist should be charged with dangerous driving .

Direct Line, whose own research shows that at any given time one million UK motorists are using handheld mobile phones while driving, has welcomed the new guidelines.

Motor spokesperson Carmel McCarthy said: "The implementation of stricter rules and stronger penalties helps to heighten public awareness and reinforce the dangers of using electronic gadgets when driving."

According to the road safety website Think! drivers' reaction times are up to 50 per cent slower that normal when using a mobile phone behind the wheel.

This puts lives at risk and could also hike the cost of car insurance if the driver has an accident or is caught by police and has penalty points added to their licence.
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