Driving while using a mobile will soon become an offence, according to road safety minister David Jamieson.
As of 1 December 03, drivers found flouting the law will be liable for a £30 fine which can be increased to a maximum of £1,000 if the case goes to court. The government is also planning to make chatting on a phone while in control of a car an endorsable offence, which would mean that drivers found guilty would get three points on their licence.
"Our decision to introduce this new offence will make roads safer for us all. Missing a call won't kill you — an accident quite possibly could," said Jamieson.
Government research shows that drivers using a mobile phone are four times more likely to have an accident than those giving the road their full attention. While drivers using hands-free kits are not affected by this specific law, they could still be open to prosecution if it was found that being distracted by a call made them drive carelessly or recklessly.
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