Drivers face stiffer penalties for mobile use

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<div class="rxbodyfield" xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office" xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:st2="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags2" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word" xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel"><p>Next week sees the introduction of heavier punishments for drivers caught using their mobile phones while on the move with the DVLA introducing an automatic three point penalty on drivers&#39; licences and an on-the-spot fine.</p><p>Making a call or texting from a mobile whilst driving has been illegal since December 2003, but the light punishments for drivers when caught disobeying the law were clearly not providing enough of an incentive.</p><p>It is hoped that by introducing the penalty points, along with a higher &#163;60 fine, motorists will leave their mobiles switched off while they are out on the road.</p><p>Kevin Clinton, Head of Road Safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, told the Blackpool Citizen: &quot;Far too many motorists have been ignoring the mobile phone law and risking their own lives and those of others on the roads around them.</p><p>&quot;We believe the threat of points on a licence and an increased fine will give this legislation new teeth, because those irresponsible people, who think their call is more important than someone&#39;s life, are likely to take the threat to their licence more seriously.&quot;</p><p>Blue-tooth technology which allows the user to answer the phone without taking their hands off the wheel are not illegal to use but are still strongly discouraged by driving groups and highway authorities can still prosecute motorists for failing to have proper control of their vehicle or for careless or reckless driving while using a wireless headset.</p><p>uSwitch.com has plenty of information on <a href="http://www.uswitch.com/Car-Insurance/Car-Insurance-In-The-UK.html">car insurance in the UK and can also help you find the right deal. Use our <a href="http://www.uswitch.com/Car- Insurance/Index.aspx">car insurance calculator to find yourself a great deal and apply online today.</p></div>