Finally. If drivers in the UK are anything like we see in the US, then this legislation is sorely needed.
Come this Thursday, new legislation will hit the UK-books that will threaten British drivers with jailtime, in addition to fines, if they’re caught using their mobile phone to text or talk whilst on the road.
The charge of “dangerous driving” can bring a maximum sentence of 2 years, and unlimited fines can be levied against the offending driver. While jail may not be a realistic penalty in most cases, the “unlimited fine” could turn out to be a significant deterrent.
As we reported previously, UK drivers are already subject to laws that prohibit the use of cellphones while driving. However, the relatively lax penalties aren’t really doing enough to scare drivers away from texting-while-driving – thousands of Brits flout the law everyday.
The new law would make jailtime a possibility for anyone caught with their attention focused on their handset rather than the road ahead. While it doesn’t affect drivers using hands-free setups, UK officials can pull over and cite (or arrest) anyone that seems to be a danger on the road.
Hey you! Get off that damn cellphone and pay attention! Or, maybe we should lobby for jail time for Americans that like to drive while using their mobile phones? Yea, that would be nice.