Tougher punishment needed for using mobile phones when driving

Senior police office Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe believes that six-point penalty for using mobile phone while driving is needed.

11:23 31 March 2013

According to the commissioner, road deaths and casualties in the capital have increased for the first time in 20 years. And this can be partly blamed to the use of mobile phones while driving.

For this reason, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Britain’s most senior police officer, suggest tougher punishment for people who are caught using mobile phone while they are driving. He said that drivers who were caught twice should be banned from the roads to keep other motorists safe.

He added that penalty should be increased from three to six points. Young and inexperienced drivers on the other hand, should be forced to retake the tests if they are caught once within two years of getting their license.

 

He said: ‘I have to say I have still got an issue around mobile phone usage myself. I think it is still very high when people are driving. If I was able tomorrow, I would say you get six points for driving while using a phone.

 

‘The problem at the moment is we are dishing out lots of tickets, somebody gets three points and they have got another three chances.

 

‘I would say you have got two chances. You have had a mobile phone infraction and if you do it again you lose your license.'