On Thursday 14 January at Ilkeston Magistrates Court, 31-year old HGV driver, Charles West from Burton, East Midlands, saw three penalty points knocked off his licence after being caught by police using a hand-held phone while driving his DAF.
West was fined £123 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £35 and a £15 government surcharge.
Although we know its illegal and unwise, people continue to use their phones while driving. In fact I see it so often one might forget it is actually against the law.
Looking at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents' website, I found the following information:
On 1 December 2003, a law came into force to prohibit drivers using a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, while driving. It also made it an offence to "cause or permit" a driver to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving, or to use a hand-held mobile phone while supervising a driver who only has a provisional licence.
The penalties were initially a fixed penalty of £30 or a fine of up to £1,000 if the offender goes to court (£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles or passenger carrying vehicles with 9 or more passenger seats).
From 27th Februrary 2007, the penalty for using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving increased to £60 and three penalty points added to the drivers' licence.
I wondered how many lorry drivers had been punished for using a phone while driving? Or whether you think such a fine is justified, sufficient, or not nearly harsh enough?
Any thoughts I want to hear...
I have recently been caught on my mobile phone by the police but i was typing in the name from my phone book on my phone so i could use the built in hands free kit in the lorry!!!
Where do you draw the line??? To me i was doing nothing wrong exept pickin the phone up and typing in WORK so i new where to drop a trailer. I think the worlds gone mad!!..... or it could just be me. lol