David Stewart MSP warns of consequences of using mobile devices whilst driving.

7th January 2015

North MSP and Shadow Transport Minister warns of consequences of using mobile devices whilst driving.

Highlands & Islands (including Moray),Shadow Islands and Transport Minister and road safety campaigner, David Stewart, has called for drivers to refrain from using their mobile phones whilst driving. After the law was first brought in in 2003 there was a marked decrease in the use of these devices whilst driving. This figure increased until 2007 when the penalty rose from a fixed penalty of £30 to £60. Research by the Transport Research Laboratory in 2002 warned that drivers on mobiles had even worse reaction and stopping times than those under the influence of alcohol.

David Stewart said "It's illegal to ride a motorcycle or drive a vehicle whilst using hand-held phones or similar devices. The rules are the same if you’re stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic. It’s also illegal to use a hand-held phone or similar device when supervising a learner driver or rider".

“Although generally a fixed penalty notice is served by the Police on the offending driver, if you cause a collision or death as a result of your actions, charges of careless or dangerous driving could be preferred. If you kill someone by the consequence of your actions, then you most definitely will be going to jail”.

“If you are driving and do not have a hands free kit installed, then put your phone on silent and only respond to the person once you are parked up. This means stationary at the side of the road, with your keys out of the ignition and handbrake on”.

“ To highlight the dangers of using a mobile phone or other similar device whilst driving, I highlight a case that proceeded through an English Court only last week, where the offending driver picked up his mobile phone to read a text, got distracted, crossed the road and collided with another vehicle, killing the driver. The offending driver received six years in jail and was banned from driving. More importantly a young life was lost and a family were left grieving”.

David Stewart continued “There are two exemptions with regards this legislation and they are the use of radios, such as used by the emergency services and taxi drivers and
using a hand-held phone for a genuine emergency call to 999 or 112 if it would be unsafe for the driver to stop safely”.

My message is clear. What s more important -Life or a phone call or text. ‘Sensible Driving - Always Arriving’ www.sensibledriving.org.uk