Mobile law enforcement starts today

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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>From today drivers caught using their handheld mobile phones for making a call or texting while on the move will face a &#163;60 fine and three points on their licence. </p><p>The new rules are designed to provide a bigger incentive for drivers to turn off their phones while in their vehicles after thousands of drivers ignored the ruling, brought in initially in 2003.</p><p>Government proposals tabled yesterday are also looking at the possibility of mobile phones being routinely checked after every motor incident to see whether mobile phone use contributed to the causes of an accident.</p><p>Several insurance providers have carried out surveys recently, all of which discovered that while the vast majority of drivers were in favour of the mobile phone ban, many of them had flouted the law at least once since 2003.</p><p>Liverpool Victoria found that approximately seven million motorists believed that they were not distracted from driving when using a handheld mobile, despite the fact that statistically, drivers operating a mobile while on the move are four times more likely to be involved in a road accident.</p><p>Transport secretary Douglas Alexander admitted yesterday that it was probably going to take a long time for motorists to change their mindset about mobile phone usage, adding: &quot;We have seen a groundswell of support for this move. But worryingly, while 92% of people agree with the law, 21% of drivers admit to breaking it.&quot;</p><p>Some don&#39;t believe that the new penalties go far enough, with road safety charity Brake calling for increased fines and for police to be given the power to confiscate mobiles from drivers.</p><p>The organisation is recommending that the standard fine be raised to &#163;1,000 and for the law to be extended to cover hands-free phones, citing research showing these can be as distracting as hand held devices.</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>