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Better
enforcement
needed to combat
drivers using
mobile phones
»»RESPONDING TO
proposed changes to
penalties on drivers using
a hand-held mobile phone,
the Freight Transport
Association (FTA) has said
that better enforcement is
needed before penalties are
increased.
After consulting with
members at its Road Freight
Council Meeting in London,
the FTA stated that the use
of modern technology and
cameras should be able to
enable authorities to improve
enforcement and provide
evidence against those
breaking the law.
The recently launched
consultation process by the
Department for Transport
(DfT) outlined the proposed
changes to penalties for the
offence of using a handheld mobile phone while
driving. The announcement
outlined consideration by the
Government to increase the
cost of a fixed penalty notice
(FPN) from £100 to £150 for
all drivers, and the number
of penalty points on an HGV
drivers licence would rise
from three to six.
Ian Gallagher, FTA Head
of Policy South West and
Wales said, “FTA members
have told us that whilst they
welcome the increase in
sanctions, they believe there
is a definite need for better
enforcement against drivers
using mobile phones when
behind the wheel.
“We know that many
already have a “zerotolerance” approach to
their drivers using a hand
held mobile device in their
Terms and Conditions of
employment, and a single
offence would mean the
driver losing their job. HGV
drivers are also subject to
regulation by the Traffic
Commissioners and a second
offence could lead to a two
or three week suspension of
their HGV licence.”
It is currently illegal to use
a hand-held mobile phone
while behind the wheel. If a
driver has 12 penalty points
within a three-year period,
they could be disqualified
by the court for at least six
months.
Recent studies have also
found that talking on a
hand-held mobile phone can
impair driving ability even
more than when a motorist is
above the drink-drive limit.
FTA can trace its origins
back to 1889 and is
recognised as the voice of the
freight and logistics industry.
FTA members operate over
220,000 goods vehicles - half
the UK fleet - consign over 90
per cent of the freight moved
by rail and 70% of sea and air
freight.
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