MANY years ago, our lawmakers rightly decided that all convicted drink drivers had to be banned from the road as a minimum sentence.
I now urge them to do the same for the idiots who persist in using mobile phones at the wheel.
Any motorist caught phoning and driving should be disqualified for a minimum of one year.
And, just like the drink-drive penalties, anyone caught doing it more than once should be liable to be jailed – irrespective of whether or not they cause an accident.
I say this because I am constantly perplexed and amazed here in High Wycombe at the stupidity of drivers who continue with this reckless, unnecessary habit.
They know it’s illegal, they know it’s punishable by a fine and penalty points, but still they carry on regardless.
I saw one moron on Tuesday in High Wycombe town centre. He came off a mini-roundabout, cutting straight past me, with a phone glued between his shoulder and ear.
I saw another motorist, outside a local school on Friday, holding a phone while the engine was revving. Fair enough, I thought, at least she’s not driving.
But then she swung the car across the road while still gripping the mobile. Sure, it was only a minor indiscretion, but if a child had been crossing at that moment, it could have been tragedy for both of them.
Two weeks ago, the Bucks Free Press published a letter from a dad called Justin Nailard who carried out his own survey in Hatters Lane, Totteridge Lane and the London Road – and found 2.8per cent of 1,269 motorists were flouting the law in this way.
Justin is now considering naming and shaming errant drivers on the internet, and I say good luck to him. Rather than get upset at Justin, why don’t they go and buy a hands-free kit instead?
The toughening up of drink driver penalties didn’t, of course, entirely stop motorists from breaking the law, but it did have a chilling effect which changed our culture for the better.
So I urge you all to call on any contacts and friends you have in high places to campaign with me to get this law beefed up. Mind you, I should add if you are going to make this call, please don’t do it while you are driving.
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