Higher fines for hand held mobiles while driving.

Today (February 27)  new fines come into force for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving.  

St. Helens Council road safety experts have been out and about in the  Borough warning that the current fine of £30 will increase to £60 plus three penalty points on your licence.  This can mean:

•        Higher insurance costs
•        If you get 6 points within two years of passing your test your licence will be revoked and you will need to re-sit your driving test
•        There will be a maximum fine of £1,000 (£2,500 for the driver of a bus coach or heavy goods vehicle) if the case goes to court
•        If you use a hands free phone and you are not in proper control of the vehicle the penalties are the same
•        As an employer remember it is an offence to cause or permit the use of a handheld mobile phone whilst driving
•        As a caller if the person you ring is driving, terminate the call and speak to them later
•        Reaction times for drivers using a handheld phone slows reactions by 50% when compared to normal driving and by 30% when compared to being drunk.

Says Councillor Geoff Pearl, Executive Member for Safer Communities:  “It is an offence to drive while using a hand held mobile.  Using a hand held phone while driving is extremely dangerous and you could easily lose control of the vehicle.”

Local shopper Judith Hull pictured with the safety team who describe the new fines during an awareness raising campaign in local supermarkets pictured with Councillor Pearl (centre).

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Press release issued: February 27 2007