All motorists caught using a handheld phone while driving should be automatically disqualified and fined £1,000, an MP has said.
Labour’s Roger Godsiff warned that the Government’s proposals to increase the minimum fine and number of penalty points awarded to offenders is too low and does not “fully reflect the risk” to other people.
He has now called for tougher measures as a way of discouraging the “dangerous behaviour”.
Ministers announced in September that they want to double the punishment for illegal mobile phone use from three penalty points and a minimum fine of £100 to six points and £200.
This would mean new drivers would lose their licence the first time they are caught using a handheld phone as only clocking up six points within two years of passing the test is enough to ensure it is revoked.
More experienced motorists can lose their licence if they receive 12 penalty points within a three-year period.
Mr Godsiff, in an early day motion (EDM) tabled in the Commons, wrote: “That this House is concerned about the ongoing problem of the use of mobile telephones while driving, which is dangerous and against the law.
(This House) notes that in 2014, 1.6% of all drivers in England and Scotland were observed using a handheld mobile telephone while driving.
“(It) further notes that research shows that using a phone while driving makes the driver’s reactions 50% slower and makes them four times more likely to crash.
“(It) supports the Government’s decision to increase the fine for using a telephone while driving from three penalty points and a fine of £100 to six penalty points and a fine of £200.
“(It) is further concerned that this is still too low to fully reflect the risk to other road users and believes that a disqualification for all drivers who use a mobile telephone while driving, along with a fine of £1,000, would be more appropriate as a disincentive to this dangerous behaviour.”
An EDM is a formal motion submitted for debate in the House of Commons, although very few are actually debated.
