Posted By Ken Lucas For those of you who are not already aware, here is a link to a news item which provides details on what is believed to be the first conviction since the new law on the use of hand held mobile phones whilst driving was introduced. http://www.fleetnewsnet....article/?articleid=32802 Regards Ken

Posted By Chris Abbott Sickening... thanks for posting. I have a question, and it may be stupid - but I'm gonna ask it anyway. Why ban him for 5 years, as well as the sentence (not that 5 years is a problem) - but if he's in prison for 5 years, then surely the ban is unnecessary, it's not as if he can drive... in prison ? Maybe someone will explain it... :) Chris

Posted By Chris Abbott I said it was a stupid question - sorry... but if you don't ask, you'll never know :) BUT... 18 months !!!! ? What's this point in that!! But I bet his ban is 5 years (that's not reduced fro good behaviour!) Glad I'm not a lawyer! Stupid rules! ;p Chris

Posted By Sean Fraser Good point Martin - but it underlines my contention that what we need to improve road safety is not more legislation but more enforcement of what we already have. I always thought that DWDCA was the road equivalent of the Scottish "Breach of the Peace" - an excellent catch-all for all anti-social offences not separately legislated against! The point behind the mobile phone law, flawed as it is (I was shocked that the IAM advanced driving book suggested that use of hands free kits was safe!) is that it provides a specific hook for police to hang a "lesser" offence on, rather than go down the "Driving Without Due Care and Attention" route and all that entailed. My problem is that this is not going to be properly enforced or prosecuted either. Police already have problems dealing with major crimes - they don't have the time for these tiddly ones. I don't have a solution for this (other than more traffic police - now THERE'S a popular suggestion [irony filter almost deleted this statement]) but I feel that driving attitudes, like safe attitudes, are the only way to improve bahaviours. Not laws. The best phrase I've heard in relation to this issue was made on this very forum - driving is a privalidge, not a right! The license is already harder to obtain but it needs to be made more comprehensive to include night driving (rural areas in Scotland cannot include motorway or dual carriageway driving as there aren't any!). It's easier to lose now with a consequent need for re-testing but I would endorse a mandatory re-testing every ten years with a simplified testing regime would help. However, we have to be mindful that the UK has one of the lowest RTA deaths in Europe - perhaps we should be emphasising this point every time we mention the need to improve it. After all, the average driver is already (reportedly) under pressure with all the attention car driving seems to get. Starting every time "The UK has an enviable safety record on the roads but it can still be improved . . ." might sweeten the pill a bit! One thing I've pondered was a form of non-violent direct action, like honking at someone using a phone whenever I saw them (including cyclists without lights during dark, eejits turning without indicating etc.). If everyone did it, there would be such a noise they'd have to hang up! Unfortunately, there are all sorts of problems with that - not using the horn for the reason intended, confusing or annoying other innocent road users, not to mention the guy stopping, coming over and knocking my block off!. Just a thought though . . .

Posted By Eric Burt Sean Good point We would all like safer roads / drivers etc despite our (GB) good accident record and I am sure motorists would welcome a partnership approach to road safety with the Police. Unfortunately cases such as the man who was sent to prison last week for failing to pay his fine after being caught doing 38mph in a 30 mph zone don't help their cause. This morning at about 7.45 there was a crash on the A55 near Chester - drivers were tailgating each other in the heavy rain and in the dark!! After the crash I noticed how they were all giving each other just a bit more room. I also noticed that there wasn't a police car in sight. Nuff said...... Eric

Posted By Mike Miller See the bloke with the bike got a mention then! What is required is a compulsory driving re-test every five years to bring the standards back up. The police are already penalising drivers for motoring offences by making them take corrective driving lessons at the offenders expense. As an option to a fine that is. Mike

Posted By Karen Todd Jim, You are so right about jail terms. In NI people seem to serve even less of their sentence again, e.g. I think some people have been released after serving about 2 years for murder. Also, is jail tough enough? We have seen people emerge from jail suntanned and musclebound, and start riots inside if their TV and microwave gets taken away. I read somewhere recently that only 20% of people who go to jail are successfully rehabilitated, i.e. do not offend again. Regards, Karen