'˜Laws banning mobile phone use while driving need updating'
Just under 1,000 people have been stopped across the county since the start of 2016.
The current penalty is a £100 fine and either three points on a driving licence or attending a diversion course.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAs part of government plans, the points and fine are set to double, but last week Giles York, chief constable at Sussex Police, said: “There’s something about the mobile phone offence that needs to be updated.”
During last week’s Performance and Accountability meeting, he explained that the legislation as currently worded referred to making calls and sending and looking at messages, but might not cover uses such as scrolling for music or browsing social media site Instagram.
He added: “Hopefully they will modernise that legislation.”
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne asked what officers were doing to catch people using their phones while driving.
Deputy chief constable Bernie O’Reilly replied: “This is something we take really really seriously and we are doing everything we can.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWhile enforcement was one key area for Sussex Police, he argued that education and making mobile phone use behind the wheel socially unacceptable were also important.
He added: “In terms of using mobile phones while driving it’s making it as socially unacceptable, like how drink-driving is compared to 20 to 25 years ago.”
Of the around 1,000 drivers stopped for mobile phone use, around half attended a diversion course run by Sussex Safer Roads Partnership called ‘What’s Driving Us’.
Mr O’Reilly explained how on patrol that week he had stopped a driver looking for music who admitted to not being in control of their vehicle, which is a different charge.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe added: “Any lapse of concentration while driving can have a hugely terrible impact.”
It was explained that not being in control of a vehicle was not a lesser offence than using a mobile phone while driving.
Mrs Bourne told the meeting that if new drivers are convicted of using their mobile phone behind the wheel in the first 12 months they are stripped of their licence and have to re-apply.
Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHere are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.
1) Make our website your homepage
2) Like our Facebook page
3) Follow us on Twitter
4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.
And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!
Always the first with your local news.
Be part of it.