Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has revealed that ministers will be seeking to increase the fine for using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving to text or make calls from £60.00 to  £90.00.
The increase in the fine is related to a number of high profile cases where drivers using a mobile phone to text or access social media whilst driving have caused serious injury or death. Research has shown that texting behind the wheel is more dangerous than being over the drink drive limit.
Mr McLoughlin said: ‘We want to send a clear message to dangerous drivers: if you continue to show complete disregard for the safety of other road users, we will catch you – and we will punish you’.
To make it clear the use of a hand held device has been illegal since 2003, the only time it is ok to make a call whilst driving is to call the emergency services. Many people fall into the trap of texting or using the handheld device whilst in a traffic jam or stopped at lights, THIS IS STILL ILLEGAL, you must be safely parked.
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