New drivers who are caught using a phone at the wheel will lose their licence under new legislation that comes into force today.
From Wednesday anyone found calling, texting or using an app
while driving will face a £200 on-the-spot fine and six points on their
licence.
It means that new drivers – who can lose a maximum of six
points before being banned for the first two years after passing their
test– will face an immediate ban for sending a single text message.
Some additional details at
The Telegraph.
Erratum: text says Guardian but links to Telegraph.
ReplyDeleteTelegraph it is. Fixed. Thanks, Adrian.
DeleteThat is some moral panic draconian bullshit. I could compromise on a probation period for new drivers or a rule of say, one text per ten minutes. But it's easy to send the occasional text safely and responsibly -- driving doesn't demand or receive constant focus at all times -- and the harsh punishment will cost people work experience, relationships, and more. People are just focusing on it because it's new.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever driven in a snowstorm at night, when you could barely see the lines on the road? Our highway system is designed to be navigable under the worst conditions and by drivers who are old, sleepy, and cognitively impaired.
DeleteOn the contrary, have you ever driven on a three-lane highway with no other cars on a sunny day, for eight hours at a stretch? You could literally close your eyes for half your journey and still arrive just fine.
It's just a fact that driving doesn't always require 100% of your attention. Part of the skill of driving is knowing when you can relax and when you're getting actually too sloppy, telling yourself it's too easy because the law of large numbers hasn't caught up to you yet.
Trying to pay 100% attention at all times is as contrary to nature as trying to never blink, but insisting other people do it costs you nothing and makes you sound like you pay more attention than them. Self-righteousness is cheap.
I have some experience with new drivers, although before cell phones, but i can assure you that new drivers need all their attention on their driving.
ReplyDeleteUS needs this. Texting while driving is not safe, it's a risk that can have devastating consequences. I'd be OK with people choosing to take that risk if it only endangered them, but unfortunately it affects us all. Every day I see people driving dangerously slow, or in between lanes, or swerving, all due to playing with cell phones.
ReplyDeleteStill, I wonder if navigation apps like Waze count under this law?
Waze will keep you away from the po-po since they get tagged pretty quick in the app, lol.
Delete