Last February in the U.K., the penalty for using your mobile phone while driving rose from 30GBP to 60GBP, in an attempt to further convince people it’s not a great idea to ignore the law. The Local Authority Road Safety Officers’ Association (LARSOA) recently conducted a survey among its 185 members to see how they felt the increased penalties worked in regards to reducing the number of drivers still using handsets while driving.
The members unanimously agreed that the legislation was necessary, but only 25% felt as though it was effective currently. A subsequent question asking what suggestions the members had to increase effectiveness resulted in the vast majority asking for stricter enforcement.
I realize that it’s dangerous to use your mobile phone while driving, with the decrease in attentiveness and all, but do you honestly think it would be best to focus MORE resources on enforcing the ban? I mean, I just think it’s a bit ridiculous (in ANY country) to try to govern what people do while driving 100% of the time. How many times have you been driving around and see someone run a red light or come flying past you going 30 mph over the speed limit?
There’s always going to be people who flippantly ignore the law, and I don’t think it’s really all that useful to scare them into submission. Ask the RIAA how good that tactic works. I wish I had a suggestion to replace stricter enforcement, but I don’t. I just think that devoting more manpower and resources to babysitting drivers is a bit silly.
I think the family of the cyclist killed by the lady who was texting at the time she killed him might disagree that resources are wasted on enforcing this ban.
Also the publicity surrounding the case – especially if she’s sent to prison – might remind people that when they’re driving they have a responsibility to other road users to actual concentrate on driving not texting.
I’d like to see the fine raised to £250 and 3 points. Worth it if it saves a single life…