Case Warning to Fleet Managers; First Conviction Since Mobile Phone Driving Ban

Its possible that this measure has already made an improvement, as I see fewer people using their phones on the roads these days. I am also aware that having called friends, I am much more likely to get their voice mail.

Perhaps a few more high profile fines / prosecutions and possibly bans, making headline news, would help to make it, like seatbelts, become common practice!

I agree with the decision made in this case and the enforcement of the new legislation should be greater than it appears to be, like the wearing of seatbelts, unfortunatley these things take time to become the norm.

I have an in-built car kit which complies with all legislation but I have to wonder if it is enough. Are we really concentrating on the road or the conversation we are having about a business decision? I think the latter.

Ian Beddis has a good point about smoking, eating and drinking which in my opinion can be as dangerous as using a phone... how far do we go? What about changing CD's or Cassettes whilst driving.

Were any of these issues considered whilst this new legislation was being discussed?

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I feel that there should be an automatic 3 month ban if caught not using hands free. I feel that there should also be some work with manufacturers to ensure so far as is possible that new cars have the facility build in for hands free with a universal holder (maybe asking too much). Anything that prevents accidents to anybody wins the day with me.

I totally agree with the fact that people caught using a phone whilst driving should face imprisonment of fines. I wonder though what the reaction would be concerning the banning of smoking, eating and drinking whilst driving?

It is about time that some form of legislation regarding the use of mobiles while driving came into force, but it needs to be enforced, there are still to many people trying their luck and putting peoples lives at risk by using their phones every day. As a car driver and motorcycle rider I see too much of it.

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I live in Washington State in the US. I hope a similar law is passed here. Cellphone use while driving, hand held or otherwise, is one of the most potentially dangerous acts to have been created by inventors in a very long time. Couple that with the the sloppy inattentive style of driving here and..well, let's just say I'd rather be driving in the UK.

Anyone who causes death in these circumstances now the new law has been passed should get life.

Paul Harrison

your comment "Moran will spend this Christmas behind bars" almost sounds pitiful. A family have been deprived of a son for this Christmas and all of the ones to follow because of one car drivers stupidity. I am the chairman of a Motorcycle club in Bolton (Lancs) and still see many (too many) drivers still using hand held mobile phones, I came extremely close to being knocked off by one on Tuesday (23/12/03).Get more police officers out on the road and the beat and stop this needless distraction.

This is the kind of situation where a lifetime driving ban would also be in order.

well done that Judge