FTA says better enforcement needed to cut mobile phone use

Plans to double fines and penalties for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving send a strong signal to drivers – but better enforcement is essential, says the Freight Transport Association (FTA). The Department for Transport (DfT) has released its response to the consultation on ‘Penalties for use of a Hand Held Mobile Phone Whilst Driving’ to which FTA contributed. DfT proposes that offenders receive:
November 11, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

Plans to double fines and penalties for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving send a strong signal to drivers – but better enforcement is essential, says the 6983 Freight Transport Association (FTA).

The Department for Transport (DfT) has released its response to the consultation on ‘Penalties for use of a Hand Held Mobile Phone Whilst Driving’ to which FTA contributed. DfT proposes that offenders receive:

  • Six penalty points for all drivers (currently three)
  • Fines of £200 (currently £100)
  • No option to take a remedial course

 
FTA’s response to the consultation highlighted concerns that there was a lack of proactive enforcement of this offence, suggesting that more needed to be done in this area. The Association therefore welcomes the Department’s commitment to provide additional guidance or advice and consider new technology where it aids detection and ensure effective prosecution by the police.

Ian Gallagher, FTA head of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Policy, said “These proposed changes should go some way towards making all drivers think about the consequences of their actions. Vocational drivers also risk their livelihood as many of our members already have in place a zero tolerance for employees in breach of these rules.”
 
Mr Gallagher added “FTA agrees that these increased penalties should work to dissuade use, particularly in new drivers who risk losing their licence altogether. However, what is needed is a new effort to ensure the rules are enforced. Without enforcement, increasing the fines and penalties could have little impact on habitual users.”   
 
The consultation, which received 4,347 online, e-mailed and postal responses, concluded that there was overwhelming support for increasing the fixed penalty fine and also for increasing the penalty points for the offence; both showed 94 per cent of online respondents in favour.  Additionally, 65 per cent of online responses were against a proposal for the use of remedial training for first time offenders driving HGVs.

FTA is keen to participate in any work by the Department to use technology to help with enforcement and reducing in-vehicle use.

Related Content

  • November 3, 2022
    Driven to distraction? Call Acusensus
    Trial to detect mobile phone and seatbelt offences results in 216 prosecution notices
    Read More
  • March 9, 2016
    Roadside monitoring used to target non-compliant trucks
    The UK’s DVSA is utilising existing technology to identify non-compliant commercial vehicles and target repeat offenders while avoiding law-abiding companies. Enforcing the compliance of commercial vehicles (goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and vehicles with eight or more passenger seats) on the UK’s roads is the responsibility of the DVSA (the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). The Department for Transport created the executive agency about 18 months ago by merging the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and t
    Read More
  • August 29, 2019
    Don’t drive drunk – or use a hands-free phone
    Despite law changes, drivers’ bad habits have been creeping back in. TRL’s Dr Shaun Helman tells Adam Hill why using a phone at the wheel is just as distracting as driving after a few drinks esearch from as far back as 2002 (see box) suggests that driving while making a phone call – either hands-free or holding a handset to your ear – creates the same amount of distraction as being drunk behind the wheel. While it is notoriously hard to predict how alcohol will affect an individual (due to the speed of
    Read More
  • July 27, 2012
    Automating enforcement of environmental zones
    Amsterdam City Council has chosen to move away from manual enforcement of its environmental zone, which is intended to keep highly polluting goods vehicles out of the city centre, and is installing an automated, ANPR-based system. The signs are not much to look at: white with a red circle and the all-important word Milieuzone ('Environmental zone'). But these signs mean that Amsterdam's city centre is strictly off-limits to polluting goods traffic. At the moment compliance is monitored by special wardens wh
    Read More

Highlighted Content