By Stevie Smith Dec 21, 2007, 11:04 GMT
New and more stringent road use guidelines have been passed in the UK this week, which will see those drivers using tech-based devices while behind the wheel rewarded with a significant spell of time behind bars, reports the Guardian.
Specifically, anyone found to be placing other road users or pedestrians in peril by driving while operating a handheld mobile phone, satellite navigation system (GPS), or portable MP3 player, will be looked upon as committing dangerous driving rather than the lesser charge of careless driving.
Those hit with the charge could find themselves punished with a maximum of two year in prison, as opposed to the existing £5,000 GBP fine and licence penalty points punishment that’s presently upheld under careless driving guidelines.
Ken McDonald QC, the UK director of public prosecutions, commented that the revised policy came about in response to increased public concern regarding the dangers associated with driving while using handheld technological devices such as mobile phones.
He added that the more serious charge of dangerous driving would now be applied "where these is clear evidence that danger has been caused by its use," while the new guidelines also state that any driver who is found to be "avoidably and dangerously distracted" at the wheel while using a handheld device could be prosecuted.
Figures offered by the UK Transport Research Laboratory outline that close to 130,000 drivers were caught using a mobile phone in 2005, despite anything but hands-free use being made illegal in 2003. The Laboratory also offers that some 500,000 UK drivers make handheld calls every day, while mobile phone use was labelled as the core influence in 13 car-related fatalities and 52 major vehicular incidents during 2005.
By way of reaction to the new guidelines, road safety charity Brake commented that far too many UK drivers are "flaunting the law and endangering lives" when they use mobile phones in their cars. They also said that they hope these latest guideline developments ram home to drivers that "talking or texting while driving won’t be tolerated."
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