PENALTY POINTS AND FINES TO DOUBLE FOR TEXTING AND DRIVING
A timely reminder to all GSS Staff that as of Wednesday 1st March 2017 – penalty points and fines for texting and driving will double, to six points and £200, in what the government said it hoped would act as a strong deterrent to what motoring organisations call an “epidemic” on the roads.
Drivers can have their licence revoked if they accrue six points within two years of passing their test. Those caught using their mobile twice, or who accrue 12 points on their licence, will face magistrates’ court, disqualification and fines of up to £1,000.
Twenty-two people were killed and 99 seriously injured in road accidents where drivers were using a mobile phone last year in Britain.
Reaction times are twice as long for drivers who are texting compared with those who have been drinking, according to the Transport Research Laboratory.
Police forces across the country will be increasing patrols and cracking down on mobile use until 7th March. A coordinated national enforcement week in January saw about 3,600 drivers handed penalties.
We will communicate again with all GSS Staff members on this issue in the next few days but there are some guideline on the new legislation here.
