Taxi driver breaks new laws on using mobiles
by Wendy Miller
TOUGHER penalties came into force today for people who use mobile phones while driving - but within hours this Glasgow cabbie was flouting the law.
We photographed the black Hackney driver in West George Street while he had one hand on the steering wheel and another on his phone.
From today, drivers caught using mobiles while at the wheel face three points on their licence and a £60 fine - up from £30.
Road users are also being warned that in the most serious cases they face being taken to court and given a £1000 fine.
advertisementBut the majority of drivers in Glasgow city centre seemed to be driving safely in the light of the new laws today, with many using hands-free kits.
Police are determined to crack down on the misuse of mobiles and are launching a nationwide campaign to catch the culprits.
However, those using hands-free phone kits are not guaranteed to escape. Police say a motorist could still be distracted and, as a result, the new penalties include an offence of not having proper control of a vehicle.
Chief Constable John Vine, chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, welcomed the tougher penalties and urged drivers not to answer their phone if it rings.
He said: "Divert your call, not your attention.
"If drivers take their eyes off the road or are distracted, even for a split second, because of a mobile phone then the consequences could be disastrous."
Recent Department for Transport figures show that while more than 90% of people agree with the mobiles ban, around 20% of drivers admit to breaking it.
Every day 500,000 motorists use a hand-held phone while driving and research shows those using a phone while driving are four times more likely to crash.
The maximum fine for bus, lorry or van drivers will be £2500. The worst offenders, such as those who cause an accident, could also be banned, but the sentences will be on a "case by case" basis.
The warning was made as eight "hitch-hikers" paraded in George Square today pretending to be workers who had lost their driving licence after being caught using a mobile.
They were part of a publicity stunt organised by the Scottish Executive's road safety unit to alert drivers to the new penalties for using mobiles while driving.
Three weeks ago the Evening Times shamed dozens of drivers in Glasgow by publishing pictures of drivers using mobiles.
Do you know the taxi driver pictured? If so, call our news desk on 0141 302 6520 or send an e-mail to: times@eveningtimes.co.uk
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/disp ... obiles.php
