Fines Soar For Mobile Phone Use When Driving In Highland

31st March 2012

Police warning about use of mobile phones whilst driving.

Drivers across the Highlands and Islands are being warned to concentrate on driving and not to use handheld mobile phones or other communication devices behind the wheel. The warning comes in the wake of concerns raised during Northern Constabulary's online engagement with young people on Facebook led by Chief Superintendent Innes.

The legislation was introduced nine years ago. Research shows that reaction times are significantly impaired if you are making calls and driving at the same time. Drivers using mobile phones are four times more likely to be involved in a road crash.

The actions of local drivers throughout the Highlands and Islands by using mobile phones when driving presents a danger to themselves and other road users.

In the eleven months to the end of February 2012, there have been 626 offences detected. Endorsable Fixed penalty tickets result in 3 penalty points and a £60 fine.

The message to drivers who continue to ignore the law is that Northern Constabulary will continue to proactively target offenders and they will be caught.

The Road Vehicles Construction and Use Regulations 1986 provide legislation in relation to all hand held devices. The offences detailed are:

- Use of hand held mobile phone while driving

- Use of hand held mobile phone while supervising a learner driver

- Use of hand held device while driving

If officers consider the circumstances to be aggravated or a conditional offer fixed penalty ticket is refused, the offender can be reported to the court where the fine can be greater, the maximum being £1000 extending to £2500 if driving a PSV or LGV.