Corporate Responsibility

Mobile Phones and Driving

It is strictly illegal to drive while using a hand-held mobile phone. Motorists now face tougher penalties for doing so, following the introduction of the Road Safety Act 2006 on 27 February, with the fixed penalty fine doubling to £60 and offenders being awarded three penalty points for each contravention.

Although the use of hands-free equipment is not specifically outlawed in the same way as hand-held phones, such use has still been shown to be distracting, with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents saying that it knows of at least two fatal accidents involving drivers using hands-free mobile phones.

Under existing laws drivers making phone calls with hands-free equipment can still be prosecuted for failure to have proper control of their vehicle, with penalties in line with those for drivers using hand-held phones. Drivers can also be prosecuted for careless or dangerous driving if, for example, they are involved in an accident while making a call.

So, to be completely safe, we recommend that our customers take a break from calls and switch off their mobile phones before driving, letting calls go straight to voicemail while they're on the road.

Hoax text message

We're also aware that some mobile phone users have been receiving text messages from the number 07666000555, claiming that they have been caught using their handheld phone whilst driving and that it's going to be dealt with through the courts. This is a hoax.

If the police prosecute for this offence, they will stop the vehicle and give the driver a fixed penalty notice. If a notice of intended prosecution is issued it is done by post. Under no circumstances is this done by text message.