From February 2017 the offence of using a hand held mobile phone or other mobile device will be punishable by fixed penalty of £200 plus six penalty points. The safety course alternative has now been abandoned. Further, HGV drivers caught using phones or devices are now being reported to the Traffic Commissioners.
It's about time that the use of mobile phones whilst driving was given a more serious penalty.
A few years ago the 17 year old daughter of a work colleague was killed when the car she was in ran off the road and in to an electricity pylon, The driver was texting at the time and he was uninjured but the girl received massive head injuries.
After his trial he was given 3 years in jail. Does not seem much for taking a persons life.
