News

Kent Police have said they will not tolerate motorists who continue to flout the law by using their mobiles phones whilst driving.

They warn that drivers caught using handheld mobile phones could be banned under the tough new rules being introduced next week.

Research has shown people using a mobile phone while driving are more dangerous than drink drivers, and are four times more likely to have a crash. The new penalties come into force on Tuesday 27 February 2007.

Kent Police figures suggest that up to five percent of road traffic collisions involving serious injuries or fatalities in the county are as a result of drivers using a handheld mobile phone immediately before or at the time of the accident.

People caught driving while using a handheld mobile to receive or make calls, texts and pictures or to access the internet while driving, stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic will receive a £60 fine and three penalty points instead of the current £30 fine.

The increase in penalties is part of an ongoing government and police road safety campaign to reduce the number of road traffic collisions involving drivers using handheld mobile phones. 

In 2006 (January-December) Kent Police issued 4,680 fixed penalty notices to drivers caught using a handheld mobile phone. Four fixed penalty notices were handed out to those using a handheld mobile phone while supervising a learner driver.

Chief Inspector John Frayne, the head of road policing in Kent, said: ‘Driving while using a handheld mobile phone is dangerous and puts the driver’s life and the lives of other road users at risk.

‘Kent Police will not tolerate motorists who continue to flout the law and drivers can now additionally expect three points on their licence and a £60 fine if caught. Not only that, people who are caught could find their car insurance premiums rising too.

‘As police officers we see first hand the devastation caused by vehicle owners who have been distracted when using their mobile phone, and making the roads of Kent a safer place is our priority. We hope these tougher penalties will make drivers think twice before they text or make or answer a call behind the wheel.’ 

For cases that reach court, the penalties for using a handheld phone can result in a large fine of up to a maximum of £1,000, which rises to £2,500 for drivers of vans, lorries, buses and coaches, as well as possible disqualification from driving.

Kent Police will immediately enforce the new penalties and will also be working in partnership with neighbouring police forces to monitor the motorways and major routes in and out of the county.