Harrogate Borough Council
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Service Provided by
Travelwise & Road Safety Manager
Transport Services
e-mail
Phone: 01423 556613
Fax: 01423 556510
Textphone: 01423 556543
Knapping Mount
West Grove Road
Harrogate
HG1 2AE
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Road Safety - Mobile Phones
Mobile phones and the law
It's now illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone when you're
driving, even when you're stopped at traffic lights or in a queue
of traffic. You may be fined £30. This can be increased to a
maximum of £1000 (£2,500 for drivers of lorries, buses
and coaches) if the matter goes to court.
This includes making or receiving calls, pictures, text
messaging or accessing the Internet. You must pull over to a safe
location. Risk using a hand-held mobile phone when driving, and you
risk a fine.
You can also be prosecuted for using a hands-free mobile phone
if you fail to have proper control of your vehicle.
Drive carelessly or dangerously when using any phone and the
penalties can include disqualification, a large fine, and up to two
years imprisonment.
If you are an employer, you may also be prosecuted if you
require your employees to use a hand-held mobile phone when
driving. It is an offence to cause or permit the use of a hand-held
mobile phone when driving. It is also an offence to cause or permit
a driver not to have proper control of a vehicle.
The only exception to the rule is when you need to call
999.
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Drive responsibly
Phones in cars can have many benefits. They provide security
and help in an emergency. However, they are distracting if used
when driving and this increases the risk of a crash. It is hard to
do two things at once and to drive safely you must concentrate on
the road.
Switch off before you drive off
It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone when driving,
even when you are stopped at traffic lights or in a queue of
traffic. This includes making or receiving calls, pictures, text
messaging or accessing the Internet. You must pull over to a safe
location.
Risk using a hand-held mobile phone when driving, and you risk
a fine.
Drivers
Even if you are a careful driver, you will still be distracted
by a phone call or text message. Your concentration and
anticipation will be affected.
It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone when
driving.
Keep your mobile phone switched off when driving and use your
voicemail, a message service or call diversion so that messages can
be left for you when your phone is switched off.
Only use your mobile phone after you have stopped in a safe
place. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an
emergency.
You may think a hands-free phone will enable you to have
control of your vehicle, but your mind will not be fully on your
driving. It is not like talking to a passenger who will be aware of
what is happening when you are driving.
Avoid taking calls on a hands-free phone. But if you must, say
you are driving and end the conversation quickly. Otherwise you
will put yourself and other road users at risk.
You may use a mobile phone when driving for help in an
emergency. On a motorway it is best to use a roadside emergency
telephone, as the emergency services will be able to locate you
easily.
Employers
Do not ask your staff to make or receive calls when they are
driving.
As an employer you may also be prosecuted if you require your
employees to use a mobile phone when driving.
If it is essential for your staff to be contacted when they
are driving, tell them to use voice mail, a message service or call
diversion and to stop regularly to check messages and return
calls.
Other distractions
Do not forget the advice in the Highway Code about other
distractions which may affect your concentration when driving. To
drive safety avoid:
- loud music that may mask other sounds;
- trying to read a map;
- inserting a cassette or CD or tuning the radio;
- arguing with your passengers or other roads uses;
- eating and drinking.
Concentration
Even if you're a careful driver, it's easy to be distracted by
a phone call or text message - and that split second lapse in
concentration could result in a crash.