Hundreds of Shropshire motorists who flout the law by using mobile phones while driving could face up to two years in prison under new guidelines.The measures, published by the Crown Prosecution Service, could also see drivers who cause death on the roads facing life imprisonment.
They come as West Mercia Police revealed hundreds of motorists in Shropshire are still using their mobile phones illegally.
A total of 660 drivers across Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin divisions were caught breaking the law between April 1 and November 30.
Each driver - 491 in Shropshire division and 169 in Telford & Wrekin - was given a fixed penalty of £60 and three penalty points.
Detailed guidance on the harsher measures, which were announced this year telling prosecutors when to bring manslaughter charges, will be outlined in a policy document.
They mean the worst cases of causing death by dangerous driving could be prosecuted as manslaughter, which carries a maximum life sentence.
Using a mobile phone, sat-nav or MP3 player while at the wheel will be treated as dangerous driving instead of careless driving.
Dangerous driving carries a two-year maximum prison sentence, whereas careless driving warrants only a community order or a fine.
Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald QC said, when the measures were first announced in September: “We accept that in cases where there is clear evidence that danger has been caused by their (mobile phones) use - such as texting while driving - then our policy should spell out that the starting point for charging will be dangerous driving.”
The new guidelines were today welcomed by the county council’s road safety team.
Senior road safety officer Steve Chadwick said: “It’s very dangerous to use mobile phones while driving because it distracts your attention away from the road.
“It’s illegal but it can also put other road users lives at risk. It’s a serious offence and the consequences are that you could end up in prison. You could actually kill someone if driving while using a mobile because any vehicle you are driving has the potential to be a lethal weapon.”
By Kirsty Marston
16 Comments
A jail sentence for mobile phone use whilst driving is over-the-top. However, the current penalty is basically the same as a minor SP30 speeding offence. We are told that using a mobile phone whilst driving is as dangerous as drink driving yet drink drivers are rarely imprisoned. Clearly, a full review of the penalties for motoring offences needs to be conducted by the government. I’d certainly like to see a driving ban for mobile phone use whilst driving – sending offenders to prison is a step too far and we’d see people in prison for this offence whilst burglars enjoy their “community orders”. Perhaps we could also see penalties for middle lane drivers, people who cannot indicate properly and navigate roundabouts, red light jumpers and morons who insist on driving with front fog lights on at all times.
hello hello hello,whats going on here then,not a lot really,i see people everyday on there mobiles driving but there is’nt a traffic cop in sight,and as for two years in prison paradise,what awaste of taxpayers money again,i think a two hundred pound fine and three points would do the trick?,here is the real crime there’s no traffic police anywhere the laws a joke and everybody knows it.
Are they planning to let all the dangerous inmates out of the overcrowded prisons, to make room for all the potential killers.
I agree Harold, there should be a review of the penalties to make the punishment fit the crime.
I would welcome a tought sentence on drivers using their mobiles - like an instant 5 year ban or something - it may act as a deterrent.
I would also welcome a function to be able to inform the traffic police of idiotic/dangerous/law breaking drivers as there has been many a time when we’ve been in the car and some numpty has decided that road rules dont apply to them - it would need to be heavily managed though as some people would use it as a revenge facility!
well penalty points dont seem to be scaring peopleinto abiding by the law do they? wonder if this will help at all..
Don’t use your phone on the road.
If you do, you’re a naughty toad.
Concentrate on your driving!
Keep the human race surviving!
Drivers who do answer a mobile whilst driving certainly do not set out on their journey with the intention of breaking the law, and it is a split second decision to answer the call. This does not justify it, but this point is intended solely to make the comparison with a driver under the influence who sets out intentionally breaking the law, knowing full well his ability to drive will be impaired for the entire duration of their journey. Yet people who do use a mobile handset could still end up with a two year jail term along side people the steal, rape and murder.
Harold St. John Peasbody.
Harold, what a wonderful contribution to the discussion. You are so right in what you say, I agree entirely.
It is good to see that you have given much thought to your entry on this occasion and such comments will give much more creditability than some you tend to make without stopping to think about how silly some of them have been at times. Well done Harold.
I have just returned to UK after many years in NL F and D. UK is the wild west of Europe and drivers here just do what they want, but prison !! a bit OTT when this country does not even send yobo’s to prison for steeling cars or mugging old people. You can drive for hundreds of miles but never see a police car. also why do drivers drive with side lights on in fog heavy rain and at dusk. this is just as dangerous. And I think most cars in UK do not have indicators.
Apparently the police are working on installing new mobile phone cameras, which will spot a driver using a mobile and send the picture through to them in their nice cosy police station, so they can send out the relevant fine. The only problem is that all mobile phones will have to be painted bright orange, and apparently the other networks arent happy about that.
well these laws only relate to joe public if you are a police offier i.e. driving at 153mph a slap on wrist will do
I wonder if the boys and girls in blue ,whilst driving their cars with those pretty blue flashing lights on top and speaking into their shoulder mounted radios which have to be toggled on and off by hand are exempt from this particular law.
Someone who causes actual bodily harm by beating up or mugging verdict in can expect a smacked wrist and even a small fine.
Someone talking on the phone whilst say driving their car on a road with no other vehicle in sight and posing a danger to know one can go to prison for doing so.
I’m not condoning using a phone while driving however the contrast of penalties for the two crimes shows a serious lack of clear thinking by the lawmakers.
Ultimately if we continue to be bombarded with laws which are inept or cannot be enforced then we will see the majority of people ignoring those laws defeating the object of having them
I feel people that think a sentence to harsh a punishment would think differently if they lost someone due to an idiot on there phone. I saw a mother on the motorway, with a car full of children phone in one hand, fag in the other, clearly the message isnt sinking in.
i agree with neil’s comments, but if i’m not allowed to use my phone in the car, or eat for that matter. Why should people be allowed to smoke behind the wheel.
GOSH WHEN WILL THESE PEOPLE BE STOPPED??
Lorry Drivers driving one-handed round islands with a mobile stuck to their ear in the other hand.
Car Drivers with mobiles constantly glued to their ears.
At most traffic lights motorists driving over red lights long after they have changed to red.
Motorists who drive down the centre of the road dangerously - to avoid speed bumps.
The reckless speed of drivers on the Eastern Primary etc etc.
And where are the Police?
I have reported some of these issues to the appropriate department at Malinsgate and no-one is interested.
Another accident waiting to happen in all these situations.
Clean Licence but frustrated driver.
Well Harold St John Peesbody its okay for somepeople who have a chaffer to drive them to the golf course in their Rolls Royce Cornet Convertable with champagne in the back sacking people on your mobile phone. SOME OF US HAVE TO GET THE BUS