11 years ago, the Carvin family lost a loving mother and wife. Paul, Emily and Ben share their heartbreaking story about how one driver texting at the wheel changed their lives forever. Nothing is so important it can’t wait. THINK! Put your phone away.
The facts
- Drivers using a hands-free or handheld mobile phone are slower at recognising and reacting to hazards.
- Research shows:
- You are 4 times more likely to be in a crash if you use your phone.
- Your reaction times are 2 times slower if you text and drive using a hands-free phone than if you drink drive, and this increases to three times if you use a handheld phone.
- Even careful drivers can be distracted by a call or text – and a split-second lapse in concentration could result in a crash. At 30 mph a car travels 100 feet in 2.3 seconds.
The law
- It’s illegal to use a handheld mobile phone or similar device for any purpose when driving. This means you cannot hold a phone or similar device in your hand to follow a map, read and send messages, make or take calls, use the Internet, take a photo, or change a music track.
- It is also illegal to use a handheld phone or similar device when supervising a learner driver.
- These both apply even if you’re stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic.
- You can use a handheld phone if you
- need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop
- are making a contactless payment at, for example, a drive-thru
- are parking the vehicle remotely using an App on the phone.
- You should wait until you are safely parked before using a hand-held mobile phone.
- If you’re caught using a handheld phone while driving, you’ll get 6 penalty points on your licence, a fixed penalty notice of £200 or a fine of up to £1,000 (or £2,500 if you’re a bus or lorry driver).
- You’ll also be risking a driving ban; if you get just 6 points in the first 2 years after passing your test, you will lose your licence.
- Using a hands-free device (for example, for navigation) is not a specific offence in the same way as using a hand-held mobile phone. However, if this distracts you and affects your ability to drive safely, you can still be prosecuted by the police.
The consequences
- You risk a driving ban
- Points on your licence leads to higher insurance costs
- Losing a job