New legislation has doubled the penalty for drivers using mobile phones by driving. But for HGV drivers, failing to obey the law could have far more serious consequences.
Recently updated laws state that drivers using a mobile phone while driving could now be handed six penalty points and a £200 fine. But the latest clamp down on using phones while driving doesn't end there. The legislation, which covers England, Scotland, and Wales, also states that repeat offenders could be handed fines reaching £1000 and be disqualified from driving for up to six months.
Clearly driving while looking at a mobile is dangerous, we have seen enough horror stories about driver and victim lives ruined by the practice. Therefore, it's no surprise that the rules are becoming strictly and will get stricter still if the number of incidents doesn't fall drastically.
Avoiding these penalties means that HGV drivers need to plan their routes, and make sure their vehicle has decent hands-free technology. For those who feel the need to check social media, or text while driving because they are bored, the net is closely quickly. Six points can be extremely damaging to commercial drivers, but a six-month ban can be career ending.