Posted By cara Worth a try!! It takes me an hour to get to work - most of it stuck in traffic!! The number of people on their mobiles amazes me!! And I'll add it's usually these people driving badly - i.e. cutting people up etc, coz their aren't looking were their going!!

Posted By Vernon Kay Well it was developed by the French so maybe they are less aggressive. I believe the idea is that drivers feel ashamed as the person on the other end of the phone will hear the noise and realise they should not be driving at the same time as talking to them. Apparently it did work, but read this story: A police chief in southern England was caught driving his car while using his mobile phone, an offence here, by a motorist who followed him, The Times reported on Monday. Guy Darby, chief superintendent in the county of Surrey, southern England, was reprimanded by his force and ordered to pay 30 pounds (56 dollars, 45 euros), the equivalent of the penalty fine, to charity. A motorist followed Darby to his station after the officer cut in front of him while talking on his mobile phone. Using a mobile phone while driving has been illegal in Britain since December 2003 unless drivers have a hands-free kit. “If this incident highlights these dangers to anyone else, then it will be worth the embarrassment I am feeling,” Darby said in a statement. “Answering my mobile while driving was a serious error of judgment.”

Posted By ian (fingaz) no....do you think it will? I've even seen a police officer on the phone while driving. if that's the example to follow what chance has the general public?

Posted By Alan Nicholls We could learn something from those nice people in Singapore. If you are found using a mobile phone while driving and not using it with a Bluetooth or hands free setup. 1 They fine you 2 They can administer corporal punishment whipping 3 They take your phone away 4 They endorse your licence If your very unlucky you could get the lot. Remember this is a country that has the death penalty. I suppose they might shoot you as well if they got a bit Peeeeed with you.

Posted By J Knight Hi Folks, The company I used to work for has a care service in the Isle of Man. They introduced a ban on mobiles before the UK, and being rather more direct about certain things the enforcement policy they adopted was very simple; a £1,000 fixed penalty notice, served on the spot, no arguing. I understand it worked fairly well, John

Posted By Vernon Kay Thanks for everyone's comments on this issue. No wonder it is the most highly viewed item on the forum for a while! I will certainly be looking into installing a system in our vehicles to prevent phone use. We need them for preventing abusive behaviour, preventing illegal parking and preventing our drivers listening to James Blunt at the lights!

Posted By Vernon Kay Sounds like the copper was struggling to make his arrest rate on that day. The horn is technically to alert others of your presence. In this case I would argue that the use was to tell the stopped driver that you wanted to move forward through the lights, so you would be let off scot free.

Posted By J Knight Hi GSP, It worked in the Isle of Man; £1,000 no excuses. But then, as I say, they take a different view there, John

Posted By Tabs Merv, not illegal to sound horn whilst stationary if to do so would avert danger. Improper use of the horn? Certainly. Unhelpful use of horn? Certainly. One must consider the frame of mind and concentration of those people hell-bent with stopping people using the phone. To see it and tut with disgust is one thing, but to become distracted trying to tell them of your disgust is another thing. You then become a danger to other road users. Add to that the confusion and distress to pedestrians (going through a town sounding a horn is rather distressing to those on the pavement) and I hope you can see that the scheme is not the best idea yet. Perhaps a better way is to tell your friends to stop when you see them doing it, and to hang up on people who insist on calling you from a vehicle. Slower but probably safer. Eventually people will get the message if you are serious about giving it. Many of us say one thing but then participate in the conversations with these people.

Posted By J Knight Hi Vernon, If the van is shared between a number of drivers or if it is used by more than one person at a time (e.g. driver and mate) then smoking in it will probably be illegal from April; it already is if it's in Scotland, John

Posted By J Knight No, sadly not ion-house; I have to agree that wouldn't work, John