Penalties doubled for using a mobile while driving

Drivers face six points and a £200 fine if they are caught using their mobile phone at the wheel

Drivers face six points and a £200 fine if they are caught using their mobile phone at the wheel from Wednesday (1 March).

Peviously, motorists faced three penalty points on their licence and a £100 fine.

Greater Manchester Police is supporting a national campaign to raise awareness of the tougher penalties and the dangers involved of using a mobile phone while driving.

The new legislation also means newly qualified drivers may have their licence revoked on the first offence under the New Driver Act.

GMP Inspector Tony Allt, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “Unfortunately, there are still a number of drivers who selfishly continue to endanger the lives of fellow road users, as well as their own, by using a mobile phone while driving.

“To coincide with the national campaign and the introduction of the tougher penalties, we will have a number of marked and unmarked patrol vehicles and road side checks to identify and stop motorists who break the law.

“Using a mobile phone or any device that distracts your attention while driving is simply wrong for the road.”