Despite the tougher penalties it would seem that the number of drivers using their phones behind the wheel has actually increased.The research, carried out by Swift Cover has revealed that the number of offenders has risen since the new penalties came into force.
The figures for 2010/11 have shown that 171k fixed penalties were issued for mobile phone offenders. With 2 police forces yet to respond, the figure is already higher than the statistics from 2006, where the number of offenders was just under 167k. Just one year later the tougher fines were introduced with offenders being charged £60 instead of £30, and the chance of incurring points on their licence.
It would appear that some parts of the country have seen higher increases than others. Thames Valley Police have reported a 21% increase in the number of fixed penalty notices served to offending motorists. Hampshire and Yorkshire also saw rises.
And it isn’t just drivers being fined for using their phone while behind the wheel, according to the report from Swift Cover, 56 fines were issued to people in London who were supervising learner drivers while talking on their phones in 2010/11.
Drivers aren’t just using their phones to chat either, 5% of motorists confessed to using their phones to check sites such as Facebook while behind the wheel. Unsurprisingly the figure is even higher for drivers between the ages of 18-34.
The Chief Claims Officer from Swiftcover.com, Robin Reames, comments on the figures, “It's clear that current measures to stop motorists using their phones while driving simply aren't working. An irresponsible but substantial minority of motorists are continuing to flout laws and endanger others, all for the sake of a phone call that could be taken at another time”.
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