1. Meridian
  2. 8 updates

Penalties and fines doubled for using phone at the wheel

Penalties and fines doubled for using phone at the wheel

Live updates

Teenager to lose licence after using phone behind wheel

Police are on the lookout for illegal phone use Credit: ITV

A teenage driver, caught using his mobile phone behind the wheel in Abingdon, has become one of the first to lose his licence in a police crackdown.

The 19-year-old was one of ten drivers stopped on the A34 on Wednesday. Motorists caught using their phones while driving now face six points instead of three and a £200 fine. Those who have held their licence for less than two years will have to re-take their test.

Advertisement

Dorset Police: more than 31 drivers caught before lunchtime

Dorset Police issued 31 tickets to drivers for using their mobile phone at the wheel, by 12pm lunchtime.

ITV News Meridian can reveal that, by 2pm, the figure had risen to 42 tickets.

Officers started their crackdown at 8am.

Thames Valley Police: It's not worth the risk

Police across the region are out in force today, to catch drivers who are using their mobile phone at the wheel.

From today, the penalties for using a mobile phone whilst driving have doubled, with drivers facing a £200 fine and 6 penalty points on their licence.

Insp Gavin Biggs, Thames Valley Police, talks to ITV News Meridian:

Thames Valley Police is also using the road safety hashtag #ItsNotWorthTheRisk to raise awareness.

Dorset Police: No excuse

Credit: Dorset Police

As an officer who deals with the often tragic aftermath when a driver is distracted at the wheel, I would like to make a personal plea to the driving public to think about their actions. You may think liking your friends Instagram post or Snapchatting your drive home is the most important thing at the time, but your priorities can change in a second.”

– Sergeant Joe Pardey, from the Alliance Roads Policing department

Advertisement

Surrey Police: Can you afford the risk?

Credit: Surrey Police

From today, the penalties for using a mobile phone whilst driving have doubled, with drivers facing a £200 fine and 6 penalty points on their licence.

Surrey Police is out in force, clamping down on drivers who are flouting the law.

Although mobile phones are seemingly essential to modern day life that does not mean you have to be on it or able to answer it every minute of the day. Our advice is to put your phone on silent, put it in the glove box or turn it off completely. Get into the habit of telling people who may contact you that you will be driving – it is also their responsibility to not call you while you are doing this.

These latest legislative amendments are another way to help drive the message home #ItCanWait. Motorists who are evading the law will find out first-hand how the latest change in penalties will hit both their pocket and licence.”

– Superintendent Chris Moon, Head of Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit (RPU)

Police out in force to catch drivers flouting the law

Credit: PA Images

Police across the region are out in force today, to catch drivers who are using their mobile phone at the wheel.

From today, the penalties for using a mobile phone whilst driving have doubled, with drivers facing a £200 fine and 6 penalty points on their licence.

If caught for a second time they will automatically be required to appear in court to receive a fine of up to £1,000 and a driving ban of up to six months.

New drivers - those in their first two years of driving - will automatically lose their licence and have to re-sit their test.

Today's police action is the first day of a national week of operations to catch motorists who continue flout the law and risk lives by using their phones at the wheel.

Back to top

Latest ITV News reports