YP Letters: Ban drivers for using a phone at the wheel

Drivers using their mobile phone behind the wheel should face more draconian punishments, says Paul Emsley.

THE recent increase in legal penalties for using a mobile phone while driving a vehicle, will have little, or no effect.

Awarding six points still means that the criminal will  still be able to drive and £200 is only a good night out in Manchester, or Leeds. No deterrent at all.

What punishment needs to  be implemented is an instant  ban for 12 months, with no mitigating circumstances being admissible.

Also, evidence received from the general public such as a photograph, or record of the event by at least two people, should be made acceptable to the police to bring a court case.

If the illegal use of the phone causes damage, or injury to others, then the ban should be for life, with life meaning life.

However, I feel that phones are only the thin end of the wedge with modern vehicles.

With more and more on-board phone and entertainment technology and less and less manual control of the vehicle – reversing alarms; automatic gearbox; Sat-Nav; self-parking; cruise control – being required, the potential for driver distraction will increase more and more.

God help our grandchildren riding a bicycle on a public  road.