Londoners are already falling foul of huge new fines on motorists who use their mobile phones while at the wheel – while road safety campaigners warned the measures do not go far enough.
The higher penalties officially came into force on Wednesday, hitting drivers with a £200 fine and six points on their licence – double the previous punishment.
Scores of London motorists have already been pulled-up for the offence, as the Met began a week-long enforcement campaign.
On Thursday, the Met’s Roads and Transport unit shared a photo of a minicab driver being stopped on Shaftesbury Avenue for using their mobile.
They tweeted: “Continuing the mobiles enforcement campaign. PHV stopped driving while using handheld mobile phone. 6 points & £200 fine!”
A man driving a flash Jaguar and a black cab driver were among the others detained for using their mobiles.
London’s cab drivers are facing particularly strong warnings about the practice,
with the offence including phone use while on ranks and at pick-up or drop-off zones.Cabbies, who have claimed the new rules are unclear, can use a phone in a cradle but could still face police action if they are judged to be distracted by it.
The Met is targeting drivers over the next week using unmarked vans and officers at high vantage points to catch London motorists in the act.
met police blitz London
Login
Register
FAQ
