From 27 February 2007, the penalty for using a mobile phone whilst driving has been increased to £60 and three penalty points will be added to the licence of the driver involved.
The new law makes it an offence to cause or permit a driver to use a hand-held phone while driving. This will catch employers as it will be an offence to permit staff to use a mobile phone when driving and to require them to be available to take calls while driving on company business. Employers who have not already done so should take immediate advice on how best to introduce a 'no-mobiles' policy for people driving when at work.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, employers would be 'unwise to respond (to the new law) by supplying their staff with hands-free kits. Even if the use of these while driving does not contravene the specific ban on hand-held phones, employers could fall foul of health and safety laws if an investigation determined the use of the phone contributed to an accident'.
More recently, a driver who was spotted eating a sandwich whilst driving was fined and received three penalty points.
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